From smart lighters to virtual reality, Ashwin Rajagopalan lists some technological development trends to look forward to
On your wrist
Let's face it, some first generation of smart watches and fitness trackers might have looked good for the gym but certainly don't work when you are out clubbing. But wearables will find the balance between form and function. A series of spiffy wearables that will add the much-needed oomph to this segment are likely to make their India debut this year. Among these are Jawbone's UP3, which can be easily mistaken for a designer bracelet, LG's Urbane and the fashionable Withings Activite smart watch. And there's the Apple Watch, but we don't know when this arrives on domestic shores.
Alternate reality
We've been hearing about OculusVR and its immersive lens since before Facebook acquired the company. While the Oculus teleports you to an alternate reality, Microsoft just took the wraps off its HoloLens that overlays images and objects over your living spaces. A range of sensors sense your movements and create images with layers of glass that you can interact with. You can use hand gestures to interact with 3D images. Along with HoloLens and Oculus, Sony's virtual reality headset is also expected to debut by the year end.
No wires, just music
Bluetooth speakers are no longer a supplementary devices. After Bose, Bang and Olufsen recently launched its first Bluetooth speaker, suggesting that we could see more users depend on Bluetooth speakers for their primary source of music. Bluetooth speakers are no longer chained to the desk either. Logitech UE MegaBoom, first spotted at CES 2015, is all-weather proof — just in case someone flings your speaker into the water at the pool party.
Power of pixels
Fancy those really big, theatre-quality television sets? Guess what, these 4K TVs might finally go mainstream this year. The last year was supposed to be a defining year for 4K TVs but 4K just didn't keep its date with 2014. LG showcased its ambitious 77-inch 4K OLED TV, with a price tag of Rs 15 lakh, earlier this year. Even if you don't have Rs 15 lakh to spare for a 4K TV, there will be a host of options as prices fall and DTH operators in India get their 4K content strategy in place.
Not on the edge anymore
Forget the jokes and parodies about Windows 8. Microsoft has finally unveiled Windows 10 which fixes some of the serious glitches in its earlier avataar. The new Edge browser has some innovative features (you can write directly on web pages) while the new home screen combines the classic start menu with space to pin Apps. The navigation menus are simplified while the Windows store has been completely revamped. Curious? Windows 7 and Windows 8 users can sign up for a free upgrade.
Drool over drones
While authorities in India might have made it difficult for individuals to operate drones, like the Parrot AR Drone 2.0, we might see drones performing other tasks sooner than imagined. Amazon Prime Air, the company's new delivery system that will use drones to drop off small parcels, will go live in the US this year while Infinuim Robotics' drones are already doubling up as wait staff at Timbre, a restaurant in Singapore.
Kick that butt
Your cigarette lighter can actually help you light up less. Meet Quitbit, the world's first smart lighter. This $99 lighter, which started as a Kickstarter project, lights up cigarettes like a car lighter using electricity and an actuator. You can sync the device via a companion App (either on Android or iOS) and set goals. Once you hit your self-prescribed weekly limit, the lighter will not fire up. That's one way to control the urge.
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