HOW TO THINK ABOUT IT

Full speed ahead. After all the hype, 5G is finally expected to become a reality this year. Wireless carriers like AT&T and Verizon and phone manufacturers like Samsung will be in Vegas to discuss how this fifth generation of cellular mobile communications will change our lives. But it’s not just for phones. Some predict we’ll see the first round of 5G-capable laptops announced at CES this week. Fifth generation is also likely to come up in panels and keynote addresses focused on the future of smart cities, autonomous vehicles and remote surgery. Meanwhile, privacy advocates point out that faster speeds and more connected devices will only amplify the security concerns that already plague wireless networks.

The robots are coming. Actually, they’re already here — and they’re getting smarter. CES will feature more new “smart tech” products that work with Google Home and Alexa, including a keyless, Wi-fi-enabled lock that doubles as a video doorbell, and a diaper monitor that can tell your smartphone if your baby needs to be changed. Smart speakers have been souped up and will offer more voice-activated features than ever before. All these products are powered by artificial intelligence and machine learning, two capabilities you’ll continue to hear a lot about in 2019.

Look, no hands. The future of transport will be big at CES this year with 11 car manufacturers set to attend. The hottest topic, of course, will be driverless cars. But beyond that, traditional carmakers will showcase integrated features like voice, chip and sensor technologies aimed at making our commutes more enjoyable while we wait for robot cars to hit the streets in a few years. Audi and Mercedes-Benz will premiere their new electric SUVs, and Hyundai will be showcasing a mind-boggling futuristic car that promises to walk and climb over rocky terrain. You can also expect to see the bane of every city dweller’s existence: ride-sharing scooters.

Phones are the new medicine. Digital health and wellness have grown increasingly popular over the past five years, but innovations in the space now go far beyond wearables that count your steps and track your sleep. Nearly 120 digital health companies will be at CES this year, a 23 percent increase from 2018. There will be plenty of the usual watches and smartphone apps, but consumer goods are getting in on the digital health game too — though most remain shrouded in mystery. Pantene promises to use AI to improve your hair, Olay is debuting a new skin gadget and L’Oréal is launching a health sensor. Sleep will also be a central focus again this year, with gadgets that promise to soothe you into dreamland with meditation, calming sounds and hypnosis.

WHAT TO READ

8 Things to Expect From CES, Consumer Tech's Big Shindig, by Lauren Goode in Wired
“CES is still largely a hardware exhibition, a kind of disorganized manifesto on where the tech industry is headed in the coming months. But this year it’s coming on the heels of a tumultuous year for the software companies that dictate most of the tech experiences in our lives.”

Home Health Devices Are Tracking More Than Ever, by Katherine Bindley in The Wall Street Journal
“This proliferation of devices that collect potentially sensitive health data comes as last year’s tech news remains fresh in consumers’ minds ... It is an interesting time for a tech company to be asking for a urine sample.”

WHAT TO WATCH