With 2014 now finally here, the tech community is buzzing about one thing and one thing only - the International CES show in Las Vegas. In just a few days, more than 150,000 people will make their way to the conference to see what companies and developers have in store for tech consumers in 2014.
Although CES likely won't be the kind of place for the unveiling of a new major product from the likes of Apple, Samsung or Google, which typically like to have big high-profile events all their own for such things, Mashable notes that CES usually sets the tone for cool gadgets and innovations for the new year. In order to keep track of just that, below you'll find a list of some of the most important tech trends to keep an eye out for at this year's CES, courtesy of Mashable and ZDNet.
Wearable Tech: 2013 saw a lot of buzz centered around wearable's. Particularly from Samsung, which came out with its Galaxy Gear smartwatch that failed to captivate the audience of Galaxy smartphone and tablet users. There are a bevy of reasons why this product is underperforming but none of them seem to be slowing developers down on the concept of wearable technology, epecially with the Google Glass picking up steam with each passing day. CES will likely see a lot of lower-quality ambitious models of wearable devices. No, Apple won't be debuting its iWatch or anything like that but Mashable notes that it will be a good place to see ambitious wearable fashion and fitness tracker devices.
Biometrics: Fingerprint sensors and eye scanners aren't necessarily new technologies. However, the iPhone 5S set the bar high for their integration into everyday products like smartphones. You can bet on a lot of physical locks and features to be showcased at CES this year, thanks to the iPhone 5S' basic proof of concept.
The Internet of Things: This is expected to make one of the biggest showcasing at CES 2014. It's a concept term that applies to the idea that all gadgets can be interconnected in order to cut down on daily tasks and chores. Your car should have smart capabilities, your doors should have smart capabilities and even your refrigerator should have smart capabilities. It's unclear what form this concept will take at CES this year, but one thing is certain, it will be there.
3D Printing: This technology is a long way off from being a part of your home office. The technology for a 3D printer is very expensive and the task of photographing an image for 3D printing is actually quite difficult. However, CES is not necessarily a place for finished products as much as it is a place for proof of concepts. As a result, we'll likely see the push for more accessible 3D printing continue into 2014.
