Posted by: TAZ Networks on January 19, 2018 at 8:00 am
CES 2018 showcased tons of innovation with automotive and business computer application.
CES has grown to be more than “consumer electronics.” CES 2018 showed off tons of new automotive and business computer technology.
What CES 2018 technology will affect Michigan businesses?
Automotive
Southeast Michigan still runs on cars, but we’ve come a long way from the Model T and your father’s Oldsmobile. Here’s what’s trending in the automotive world, according to CES 2018:
Electric. Carmakers continue to explore and expand their electric and hybrid vehicle offerings. We’re sure to see more of this technology at the North American International Auto Show this weekend.
Driverless vehicles. Ignore autonomous driving technology at your peril. CES 2018 demonstrated that driverless cars are on their way. For example, personal vehicles, personalized public transportation in the form of electric mini cars that arrive on demand, food carts and trucks, and portable shops are all well into the proof-of-concept stage. Like electrics, be on the lookout for more driverless tech at the NAIAS.
Internet of Cars. The Cellular Vehicle-to-Everything (C-V2X) initiative endeavors to connect autonomous vehicles with, well, everything they might encounter. This could include other vehicles, infrastructure such as traffic signals, and even pedestrian devices. This technology should make driverless cars safer and more responsive.
Connected cockpits. Digital Trends coined this term for incorporating facial recognition and haptic controls into the driver’s seat. Imagine getting behind the wheel, and a tiny camera scans your face. The car then automatically adjusts the seats, mirrors, and music to your preference.
Computers
Convertible and 2-in-1 portable computers continue to advance, pushing tablets to the side. Lenovo introduced the Miix 630 2-in-1 with face recognition login. Because it’s powered a chip designed for smartphones instead of laptops, the new Miix offers a whopping 20-hour battery and built-in mobile LTE data. It’s a bit like a big smartphone that you can actually do work on. The detachable tablet docks into a keyboard/stand folio and includes a stylus. Expect the Miix 630 to arrive in Q2 2018 and retail for about $799.
Gaming hardware maker Razer puts a twist on this concept. Razer’s Project Linda allows you to dock a Razer phone into a laptop-like charging base, with keyboard and monitor, and use the phone as a trackpad to run the whole setup. Razer makes gaming hardware, but we can see business applications for this as well. Microsoft tried a similar concept a couple of years ago with mixed results. Still, the concept practically demands practical business development. After all, who wouldn’t want one central, pocket-sized device that can handle all your work?
Intel had huge showing, and a keynote presentation, but provided no real updates to the Meltdown and Spectre chip flaws. We’ll continue to monitor the news and let you know what we find out. Follow us on Twitter for faster updates.
Speaking of chips, quantum computing still has a long way to go, but Intel has a tangible superconducting quantum chip, and IBM displayed a still-fragile quantum computer prototype at CES. We struggle to comprehend exactly how quantum computing works, but essentially this new way of processing data should be faster than anything before. As more and more data processing infiltrates business operations, this technology will be needed down the road.
While we’re waiting for all this great new tech to trickle down to practical business applications, there are ways to get your computer network running faster and more efficiently. Fill out the contact form on the right if you’re looking for reliable, friendly computer expertise.