Smartphones replace remote controls

Home appliance and television manufacturers such as LG and Sony are beginning to offer apps to allow smartphones to replace TV remotes or to control ovens and other appliances remotely.In the future, smartphones will be used to control office and factory equipment remotely without investing in fancy remote controls.

Cameras everywhere

HD video cameras have gotten so small and inexpensive, and made it so easy to stream content, that they are being adopted for many new uses, including live-streaming meetings and daily business activities. Several companies are offering “people-cams” that can be discreetly worn by police officers or bank tellers to record everything that happens during a day.

Virtual salespeople

Retailers can reduce costs and improve customer service through virtual in-store salespeople. The Beam by Suitable Technologies is a mobile video kiosk that allows salespeople in remote locations to talk to in-store shoppers via a computer and wireless connection. Shoppers can see the clerk’s face on a video screen and talk with her in real time.

Portable power

With all this new technology, we all need more power. MagicCharger from Mobee and PowerNow from DateXX are portable chargers the size of a cigarette lighter that can be used to recharge smartphones and tablets anywhere.

Smart homes

After years of hype and unfulfilled promises, homes are finally getting smarter, thanks to Wi-Fi and cloud computing. Large appliance manufacturers such as LG and Samsung have self-monitoring refrigerators, ovens, and clothes washers that report performance and allow users to control them remotely with an iPhone.Smart appliances have the added advantage of allowing companies to create databases of usage behavior to understand consumer usage and needs better.

Tablets

Tablets are becoming the tool of choice for many business applications as companies find new ways to adapt them. Startup iHealth Labs has a line of medical devices such as blood pressure monitors with iPad docks so that they can be used as controls and for monitoring. This may be just the start, as tablets are inexpensive and easy to program, making them superior replacements for many devices.

Ultra-high definition

Video and photography are getting clearer. All the major TV manufacturers, such as Panasonic, Sony, and Samsung Electronics are now offering ultra-high-definition video, with four times the clarity of regular high definition. Nikon and other camera companies also have super HD versions. ultra-high-definition has the potential to replace HD, making communications clearer and more lifelike.