Innovation Sessions: CES 2014

The first Innovation Session of 2014 kicked off with a look at a couple of the big themes from this year’s CES. An enthusiastic bunch of big thinkers from across the agency squeezed around the boardroom table to listen, learn and discuss.

First up was the subject of wearables. We discussed the convergence of tracking tech (such as FitBit, Nike Fuelband etc.) and smart watches (Samsung Galaxy Gear), to form just one ugly piece of tech that you can strap to your body (such as the Epson’s Pulsense).

This led us to a debate around the impact of design on technology, and how this will become more prevalent as we attach more tech to our bodies. Do we wear tech as a badge of pride because it looks ‘techie’? Does that mean there’s a huge group out there missing out on the latest tech because it’s not designed to fit in with their fashion? Pebble seem to think so, with the launch of their latest watch (pictured below), as well as a raft of announcements linking tech giants with fashion designers.

Next we talked ‘the internet of things’. Essentially taking everyday objects and connecting them up; making them smart. We saw the Sleep Number x12 - an $8000 bed that monitors your sleep patterns and heart rate, and adjusts the contours of the bed accordingly.

And lastly; talking fridges. We’ve been promised them for years at CES and this year was no different. The latest offering is LG Home chat; a service that’ll allow you to text your home electronics and get a response. Its application seems ridiculous at the moment, but we think it’s just not being used in the right way. Surely if your fridge could tell when you needed more milk, and ordered your next Ocado shop for you – that would be useful right?

Rob Meldrum
Innovation Director UK
@rcmeldrum