The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) takes place every January in Las Vegas, Nevada. This year's event attracted thousands of exhibitors, media, and attendees eager to see the latest innovations and trends in the tech industry.
This week, we look at some highlights from CES 2024.
CES 2024 featured all the major companies from across the globe showcasing their latest in digital health, food tech, automotive tech, gaming, smart home, and more. From transparent displays and electric vehicles to artificial intelligence and smart speakers, CES 2024 showcased a variety of products and services that aim to enhance our lives, entertain us, and help solve our problems (Figure 1).
Figure 1: CES once again showed audiences a gateway to the future of tech in 2024. (Source: engel.ac/stock.adobe.com)
Transparent displays were one of the most eye-catching technologies at CES 2024. Samsung unveiled the world’s first transparent MicroLED screen, which can display content while allowing users to see through it.
Electric vehicles (EVs) were another major theme at CES 2024, as more automakers and startups revealed their plans and products for the future of mobility. Google announced a new feature for Android Auto that provides real-time battery information in Google Maps for EV drivers. This feature represents an advancement in integrating EV functionalities into Google's widely used navigation system.
Robots were another big attraction at CES 2024, as more companies demonstrated their robotic solutions for various scenarios, such as entertainment, home, education, health, and security. Samsung showcased its innovative home robot, Ballie. First announced in 2020, Ballie returned with several AI upgrades, making it a significant highlight in Samsung's offerings at the event.
Other innovative tools presented at the show demonstrated how technology is transforming cooking and kitchen management. Various new tech showed how AI and robots are being integrated into kitchen appliances, offering new ways of food preparation and making kitchen tasks more efficient and user-friendly.
This week’s New Tech Tuesday highlights the LP5811 RGBW LED driver from Texas Instruments.
The TI LP5811 4-Channel RGBW LED Driver is a versatile component that plays a crucial role in enhancing the functionality and aesthetics of various consumer products. Its features and capabilities make it an excellent choice for designing a wide range of devices, including portable and wearable electronics, gaming and home entertainment systems, and IoT home automation devices.
For portable and wearable electronics such as earbuds and charging cases, the LP5811 enables vibrant RGBW LED lighting effects. It can be used to indicate device status and battery levels and can even add customizable lighting accents for a unique user experience.
In smartwatches, the LP5811 can illuminate the display with RGBW LEDs, providing visually appealing notifications and enhancing user interactions. It allows for creative and dynamic lighting patterns on the watch face. For gaming and home entertainment devices like smart speakers, RGB mice, and VR headsets, the LP5811 can add immersive lighting effects. Additionally, it can synchronize with in-game actions, respond to voice commands, and create ambient lighting that enhances the overall gaming and entertainment experience. Finally, the LP5811 can also be integrated into IoT smart lighting systems, allowing users to control and customize the lighting in their homes, and it can even enhance user awareness and interaction by serving as an indicator for various IoT device statuses.
Overall, the TI LP5811 LED driver empowers designers to incorporate dynamic and customizable lighting into consumer products, enhancing aesthetics and functionality across a wide spectrum of applications.
CES 2024 was a showcase of the future of tech, where transparency, electrification, and artificial intelligence were the main themes. The event also demonstrated how tech can enrich our lives and offer solutions in various domains, such as home, mobility, health, and gaming. As the tech industry continues to innovate and evolve, we can expect to see more products and services that will surprise us, delight us, and challenge us in the years to come.
Rudy Ramos brings 35+ years of expertise in advanced electromechanical systems, robotics, pneumatics, vacuum systems, high voltage, semiconductor manufacturing, military hardware, and project management. Rudy has authored technical articles appearing in engineering websites and holds a BS in Technical Management and an MBA with a concentration in Project Management. Prior to Mouser, Rudy worked for National Semiconductor and Texas Instruments..