Gadgets and Innovations at CES 2018

This assignment analyzes various cutting-edge gadgets showcased at the 2018 Consumer Electronics Show (CES). It examines products like Vuzix Blade augmented reality glasses, VW's AI-powered electric microbus, LG's 4K UHD projector, and IllumiRoom's immersive entertainment system. The analysis delves into each gadget's features, potential impact, and limitations, highlighting the trends shaping the future of technology.

Running head: ENGINEERING DESIGN
Engineering Design
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author’s Note

1ENGINEERING DESIGN
Introduction
CES 2018 located in Las Vegas provides newly launched and upcoming gadgets for the
potential customers. This report will identify five of the modern gadgets that attract customer’s
eyes and describe its specification along with the barriers it might face in adaptation.
Artificial-Intelligent Microbus
Artificial-intelligent Microbus is a future vehicle introduced by VW naming it I.D. Buzz
and will be in production in 20221. The minivan will be equipped with various software and
hardware support by NVIDIA to develop artificial intelligence in the vehicle. This will allow the
customers to experience future driving experience. The augmented reality equipped in the van
will work as a co-pilot for the driver guiding them in their ride. This will potentially increase the
road safety an help avoiding accidents. Moreover, the developed AI will provide auto lock
facility in the cars that will use face detection2.
The facilities provided in the car will help reducing accidents and car theft that is hte
main attraction of the product.
This future technology introduced by VW on their retro minibus model that limits the
usability. Suggestion can be provided for adoption of this AI facility in their other models that
will provide the users over a variety of models.
LG HU80KA 4K UHD Projector
1 Will, J. (2018). The 8 Coolest Car Tech Innovations from CES 2018. [online] www.mensjournal.com. Available at:
https://www.mensjournal.com/gear/the-8-coolest-car-tech-innovations-from-ces-2018/is-this-the-end-of-street-
parking-hell/ [Accessed 14 Jan. 2018].
2 Etherington, D. 2018. VW taps Nvidia to build AI into its new electric microbus and beyond. [online]
techcrunch.com. Available at: https://techcrunch.com/2018/01/07/vw-taps-nvidia-to-build-ai-into-its-new-
electric-microbus-and-beyond/ [Accessed 14 Jan. 2018].

2ENGINEERING DESIGN
LG HU80KA 4K UHD Projector is a projector with two built-in speakers that enables the
customers to have a full UHD experience in a low budget. The projector has the potential to
project up-to 150 inches display right from the floor. The built-in speaker provides decent sound
to cover the standard size hall rooms. The product also provides the option of portability3. The
handle bar attached to the product offer the users to easily shift the product. It also provides a
wide range of connectivity enables the user to attach to number devices like computer and
Smartphone.
The main attractions of the product are UHD, portability and range of connectivity that
has the potential to replace the traditional television in the future time.
There is no as such barrier in the success of the product as the product provides a
complete package a customer might require. However, increased technological advancement will
surely propose competition in the future market.
Illy Y5 DRS
Illy Y5 DRS is a WiFi enabled pod coffeemaker that is controlled with the Smartphone
application. This is considered as the worthy replacement for the traditional coffeemaker. The
features provided by the product include profile setting. This enables the user to save up-to five
profile customising the ingredients for having a perfect cup of coffee according to their
3 Samiljan, T. 2018. The 10 Best Gadgets, Appliances, and Other Gear From CES 2018. [online]
mensjournal.com. Available at: https://www.mensjournal.com/gear/the-10-best-gadgets-
appliances-and-other-gear-from-ces-2018/lg-hu80ka-4k-uhd-projector/ [Accessed 14 Jan. 2018].

3ENGINEERING DESIGN
personalised test4. This further provides opportunity to manually adjust warm-up and brewing
time. Moreover, consumption tracker and auto-replenishment service increases the functionality
of the machine.
The main attraction of the product is the easy usability and customised recipes of coffee
according to the personal needs. Small and compact size of the machine will also facilitate as a
significant attraction for the customers.
This particular product is limited to home application and cannot be used in an office
setup, hence limiting the possible target customers. Moreover, the product is made available only
to limited countries. These factors will play as negative factors limiting its potential sales.
L’Oreal UV Sense
This tiny product measures the exposure to ultraviolet. The tiny size of the product
enables the users to attach it even to the figure nails. Advanced technology used in the product
makes it battery-free and can be controlled with NFC5. This also provides tips for avoiding the
UV exposure for protection depending on level of exposure.
Features like battery-free and tiny size of the product creates the main attraction. The
increased environmental degradation makes it necessary to use this type of products for the
health safety.
4 Samiljan, T. 2018. The 10 Best Gadgets, Appliances, and Other Gear From CES 2018. [online] mensjournal.com.
Available at: https://www.mensjournal.com/gear/the-10-best-gadgets-appliances-and-other-gear-from-ces-2018/
lg-hu80ka-4k-uhd-projector/ [Accessed 14 Jan. 2018].
5 Timetime.com. 2018. 10 of the Coolest Gadgets We Saw at CES 2018. [online] Available at:
http://time.com/5100244/best-ces-2018-consumer-electronics-show/ [Accessed 14 Jan. 2018].

4ENGINEERING DESIGN
Limited applicability of the product can work as the primary barrier in the promotion of
the product.
Vuzix Blade Augmented Reality Glasses
This Augmented reality glass can be considered as a replacement of the Smartphone that
allows the user go through the required information without reaching out to their pockets for
their phones. Waveguide based see through optics enables the user to surf through information in
their glasses6. This has multiple control features like touchpad, multilingual voice control. The
advanced feature integrated in the device will provide its users an experience of using their
Smartphone without getting distracted from their work7.
The product is capable of getting attraction due to its future style that can match with
variety of dress sense and environment. Moreover, the range of varieties the product comes in
enables the customers to select the suited style they desire.
This could have been considered as the replacement for the modern Smartphone.
However, this device is enabled using the same Smartphone it had potential to replace, limiting
the full potential of the device.
Conclusion
6 Timetime.com. 2018. 10 of the Coolest Gadgets We Saw at CES 2018. [online] Available at:
http://time.com/5100244/best-ces-2018-consumer-electronics-show/ [Accessed 14 Jan. 2018].
7 Vuzix.com. 2018. Vuzix Blade™ | Augmented Reality (AR) Smart Glasses for the Enterprise. [online] Available at:
https://www.vuzix.com/Products/Blade-Enterprise [Accessed 14 Jan. 2018].

5ENGINEERING DESIGN
The conclusion statement be made that the CES is beneficial for both the manufacturer
and the customers. This brings together the buyer and the seller under the same platform and
introduces the future technologies to the customers.

6ENGINEERING DESIGN
References
Etherington, D. 2018. VW taps Nvidia to build AI into its new electric microbus and beyond.
[online] techcrunch.com. Available at: https://techcrunch.com/2018/01/07/vw-taps-nvidia-to-
build-ai-into-its-new-electric-microbus-and-beyond/ [Accessed 14 Jan. 2018].
Samiljan, T. 2018. The 10 Best Gadgets, Appliances, and Other Gear From CES 2018. [online]
mensjournal.com. Available at: https://www.mensjournal.com/gear/the-10-best-gadgets-
appliances-and-other-gear-from-ces-2018/lg-hu80ka-4k-uhd-projector/ [Accessed 14 Jan. 2018].
Timetime.com. 2018. 10 of the Coolest Gadgets We Saw at CES 2018. [online] Available at:
http://time.com/5100244/best-ces-2018-consumer-electronics-show/ [Accessed 14 Jan. 2018].
Vuzix.com. 2018. Vuzix Blade™ | Augmented Reality (AR) Smart Glasses for the Enterprise.
[online] Available at: https://www.vuzix.com/Products/Blade-Enterprise [Accessed 14 Jan.
2018].
Will, J. 2018. The 8 Coolest Car Tech Innovations from CES 2018. [online]
www.mensjournal.com. Available at: https://www.mensjournal.com/gear/the-8-coolest-car-tech-
innovations-from-ces-2018/is-this-the-end-of-street-parking-hell/ [Accessed 14 Jan. 2018].