Analysis: 7 technologies from CES retailers should know about

Drones

Amazon hit the headlines last month when it announced it was looking into the possibility of using drones in its delivery arsenal. CES demonstrated just how possible this looks – manufacturer Parrot unveiled a mini drone that is easy to use, light and can be controlled using an iPhone. These drones are built to be toys, but they demonstrate how quickly the market is developing and how easy to use the devices are. It also shows the potential affordability of drones – these mini drones will cost less than $299.

4K TV

TV is set to become an important channel for retailers, making developments in the technology worth watching. At CES this year it was all about ultra-high definition with companies including Sony launching new 4K TVs. Most manufactures have 4K TVs available already, but it is still under development and will have a big impact on the quality of images in coming years.

Smartwatches

Smartwatches have been around for a while, and the significance of this latest launch is that Pebble, the company behind the Pebble Steel, have managed to make this one look good. Wearable technology has so far appeared clunky or too big – this one has the technology world excited because consumers are likely to want it based on aesthetics alone. There are still usability issues to iron out however, according to technology sites who have tested the devices.

Fitness bands

The fitness band and activity tracker market continues to develop, with LG bringing out the LG Lifeband Touch, Razer bringing out the dual screen Nabu, and Sony launching the Sony Core. These bands collect huge amounts of data on regular users and are used to help shoppers achieve personal goals – it’s an area sportswear retailers should be getting involved with.

Life logging

Many shoppers already record almost every aspect of their lives online, whether it’s on Facebook, their Amazon wish list or their Nike+ progress. Sony unveiled an app that could take this one step further, with life-logging software that records when a user speaks to friends, receives emails, watches TV or sends a text. While privacy issues will no doubt raise their heads, younger users especially are likely to be happy sharing much of this data, which could be gold dust for retailers.

Tablets

Samsung announced its new tablets at the event, with three versions of the Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro making its debut. The 12.2 inch version is the biggest screen yet and runs several different apps in multiple windows, while Samsung’s other new device, the Galaxy Note Pro 12.2, has a separate pen and mouse to help users navigate.

3D food printers

Asda has made great use of 3D printers in its stores and it looks as though the next step isn’t all that far off – 3D printers using food. Two were unveiled at CES by US firm 3D Systems, with both making chocolate or sugar-based shapes. It might be a while before we see food 3D printing in supermarkets however – they cost at least $3,000.