1 week home from CES, and now that the jet lag has gone, it’s time to share our thoughts on the show…

BY TOM PARSONS

Year 1 was all about seeing the products I’d judged during the awards process, enjoying the show, and catching up with a few clients.

Back for the second time, I made a conscious effort to be more structured: book more meetings and have a clear plan. I quickly learned that this takes much more time— especially if you still want to get around the show. (Spoiler alert: it’s absolutely huge!) This year was bigger than ever, with a new expo hall dedicated to sourcing.

Here are some of my highlights:

Proud to see UK brand Elvie showcasing their brand-new app-controlled smart bassinet that can learn individual bounces and transform into a bassinet without waking the child. Great to catch up with their new Chief Product Officer Alex Knox on the Dyson days.

It wasn’t all fun and no work… this year I judged the sports category for the annual CES Innovation Awards. Great to see some exciting new products in this category.

Kickstarter were back and for the first time with their own booth showcasing recent success stories. Great to catch up with the team there as we build our relationship for our clients.

Some really impressive startups stood out, notably Flint’s paper-based, flexible batteries. Not only are they lightweight and flexible, but they also don’t require any rare earth materials.

AI pets are here to stay. This year, AiMe from TCL was a notable addition—equal parts cute and Black Mirror-esque...

Flying cars were back again. This time, it was a personal drone designed by XPENG to be carried in the back of a custom EV. Could be a commute cutter if it get's off the ground (sorry couldn't resist).

The most surprising experience came from Haply Robotics' new 3D mouse. The sensation of using their VR stylus was unlike anything I’ve tried before. I’m intrigued to see if this could one day replace a space mouse for SOLIDWORKS.

One of my favourite stands had to be Experience Wonder’s, which showcased their Bird Buddy products in a virtual garden. The intersection of tech and nature was a refreshing change of pace.

Top line is that there's much more to CES than the Samsungs/ Sony / LG's of the world...

See you next year!