As always, attending the CES is a great humbling experience. It is indeed an experience to note the innovations in technology and applications being developed on a yearly basis by small companies and innovators.
The imagination and the engineering knowledge demonstrated by tens of thousands of small technology exhibitors is always amazing. It makes one believe that these innovators can meet and solve all past and future Human Interface Engineering challenges.
Small innovators generally are the leaders in innovations as seen at CES last few years. Sometimes innovators will later collaborate with larger companies give scale to the innovation.
The potential for Automotive OE to piggyback off these innovations and develop fast to market customer interface product enhancements is huge. True time to market, even for non-safety related feature enhancements, in automotive is still 5+ years while consumer product innovation moves on a 6 month cycle these days.
The risk that innovator in consumer market takes is huge as product innovation can easily be supplemented – even before original innovation has even reached the broader market.
Technology area at 2016 CES was drone technology, security, home automation, electronic wearables, vehicle connectivity and few others. It is impossible for Design HMI to cover even 5% of the innovations but below are few. We should look at these not just for the feature enhancement but more important potential technology application of the innovation in other HMI Applications.
Audi coupled with KIA and Daewoo showed the most exciting interior concept
Full Display Rear View Mirror: Great customer feature based technology innovation for enhanced driver safety through a full display rear view mirror from GENTEX and I assume others.
Universal Car Remotes: While this not a very sexy innovation it does create a unique after market opportunities and may even affect OE aftermarket business. 
The universal design allows for easier stocking to meet increased customer demands at lower costs.
High Mount Heads-Up Display: HUDWAY was showing a universal car accessory for potential imbedded device that starts any smartphone into HUD.
Large 10” and Free Form Displays: Alpine presented their 10” aftermarket displays coupled with their 11.4” high potential for automotive rear seat entertainment systems. Again shows the fast to market strides being made when most car dash displays are 8” or smaller. SHARP Free Form automotive displays were very eye popping like last year.
Unique Tool Design Concept: As has been earlier shown by Leatherman Tread that incorporates 29 tools into a simple metal wrist thing’. The concept can be carried forward to design tool kit for automotive to provide better tool choices.
Finger Tip Touch for Indoor Control: IXM Touch solutions and others offered provide much better home, store and potential automotive finger print security – great for other applications.
Energy Harvesting: Quite a few Energy Harvesting solutions but the newer ones with greater power capacity were the solar solutions. One company had design concept for vehicle roof tops. There is potential for harnessing enough energy to eliminate key off loads. Aspect Solar and others showed interesting solutions.
Panoramic 360D WiFi Camera and Others: As presented by BLACKLOUD the advancement is camera technology was impressive. The I.C.E 360 Wi-Fi camera has 1280×640 HD streaming and triple lenses panoramic view. The cost may be issue for automotive but ideal for luxury cars like Lincoln.
Other was sophisticated computer vision system that collects and processes information inside and outside the car and uses this information to warn drivers of dangers in real time.
Rechargeable Batteries & Power Packs: Though the basic chemistry of rechargeable batteries or power cells has not changed the innovations in rechargeable batteries and power packs was on display like the ECO USBCELL shown and others. Slim designs up to 11,000 mAh.
Advanced Materials: Not strictly a CES core product category but there are always some which are presented as accessories for hand held devices like the DuPont Kevlar organic fiber. It is for other industries like Automotive to this of potential interior and exterior applications for these materials.
Levitating Blue Tooth Speakers: This was shown at the last CES and there were few more examples of this application. It looks very enticing but not sure of the value proposition after the initial excitement. However am sure there are other potential applications for this technology innovation.
Electric Vehicle Charging Stations: This is out of Design HMI LLC core competence but still thought should mention this like the Tell US Power low price Networked Electric Vehicle Charging Station shown here.
3D Printer Technology: The advancements in 3D printing were clearly demonstrated at the CES. 3D printing has gone from basic rapid prototyping to sophisticated low volume production solution. For example Voxel8 is disrupting the design and manufacture of electronic devices by providing new functional materials for additive manufacturing.
Cell Phone Mounts: While the feature may seem low tech was really impressed with technology innovations to not only improve engineering but also styling of the mounts – with or without wireless charging. It opens up so many opportunities for drivers especially if this is coupled with the OBD11 connector.
Technology can also be easily applied to rear seat entertainment devices.
Health & Wellness: There of course were great number of products exhibited at the show and just a few pictured below from Tiny Logics, OURA, Polar, Epic Smart, FODY and sleep Number. The sleep number concepts measures heartbeat and other key health trackers and the technology does seem to have a fit for automotive seats.
Small Silent Gear Box for Electronic positioning Systems: Saw example of really silent gearbox designs which coupled with brushless motor would be great for automotive and other applications from Zhaowei as shown below. During operation did not hear any sound from gear box.
Wireless Charging Cup Holders: Again great innovations and fast to market solutions. Below are two examples – one from SPANG which is combination cup holder and wireless charging to which other features are to be added.
Cell Robot Technology Innovation: Classic example of applying different component level technology innovations to create a great feature. Ideal was the quick connect pogo pin connectivity system that is robust and ideal for component assembly solutions in Automotive.
TELLUS Panoramic Solar Glass Roof: Designed to provide 40%+ reduction in HVAC running time to reach comfortable cabin temperature along with other power saving benefits and continuous fresh air circulation while car is parked.
Misc. Automotive Interior Innovation Views: These are just some pictorial representations of interior innovations for basic reference only.
