8K TVs, 5G, in-vehicle tech: record US consumer tech sales forecast for 2019
- CES organisers predict US retail revenue for consumer technology will rise to a record US$398 billion this year, despite data protection concerns
- Smart home devices and virtual assistants in all kinds of devices among other products to see good growth
.png?itok=arIb17P0)
The US technology industry is weathering a crisis of confidence over data protection and a difficult geopolitical situation with record consumer technology sales expected in 2019, according to organisers of the annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES).
The Consumer Technology Association (CTA) predicted that US retail revenue in the sector would climb to a record US$398 billion this year.
Huawei launches new laptop for US amid security scrutiny
The forecast was unveiled ahead of the opening of this year’s giant electronics fair, which from January 8 to 11 will showcase the newest tech in mobile computing, health, sports, automobiles, agriculture and more.
“There are so many cool things happening in the consumer electronics industry right now,” said CTA vice-president of market research Steve Koenig.
Trends gaining momentum, and expected to be on display on the CES show floor, include super-high resolution 8K televisions, blazingly fast 5G wireless internet, and virtual aides such as Google Assistant and Amazon’s Alexa woven into devices of all kinds.
CTA director of market research Lesley Rohrbaugh pointed out that “digital assistants are going into everything”.
The CTA predicts revenue growth in the US for smartphones, speakers, smart home devices and watches, along with televisions, drones, “in-vehicle tech” and streaming services.
The upbeat outlook, however, has been tempered by concerns about trust and a simmering trade war with China which has seen President Donald Trump slap hefty tariffs on imports of tech products.
Gary Shapiro, president and chief executive of the CTA, said the dramatic drop in sales of US goods to China reported by Apple and other firms suggests potential troubles ahead.
“If China catches a cold, we get the sniffles,” Shapiro said.
“The economies are interrelated now. It’s something President Trump doesn’t quite understand … President Trump’s motives are appropriate, but his tactics are inappropriate.”
We are transitioning into the ‘data age’; I think it is going to be a little bit like The Matrix
The trade event features 4,500 exhibitors across 2.75 million square feet (255,000 square metres) of exhibition space showcasing artificial intelligence (AI), augmented and virtual reality, smart homes, smart cities, sports gadgets and other cutting-edge devices. Some 182,000 trade professionals are expected.
This year visitors are likely to see more dazzling TV screens, intuitive robots, a range of voice-activated devices, and folding or roll-up smartphone displays.
There will be a focus on AI that can “personalise” a user’s experience with a device or a car, or even predict what someone is seeking – whether it’s music or medical care.
Top digital stories 2018: Netflix, Vivo, and world’s worst video game
But because this ecosystem is built around data, confidence has been eroded by scandals involving Facebook, Google and other guardians of private information.
“Everywhere you go, data is going to be the common denominator,” Koenig said while discussing CES trends.
“We are transitioning into the ‘data age’; I think it is going to be a little bit like The Matrix,” he added, referring to the hit 1999 science fiction film.
Shapiro said he believes the industry is capable of self-regulation, but that Congress could likely act as a result of data protection scandals.
Many websites save what you type – even if you don’t press ‘Post’
But he said the US should not follow the example of Europe’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), saying that it is “stifling innovation”.
“We want to balance innovation with data collection and it should be situational,” he said. “If your car is about to hit another car, privacy is irrelevant. But if you’re talking about someone’s medical history, that’s very important.”
