CES 2015: Tech transformations over the decades 1.CES 2015: Retro Tech The annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in is highly indicative of the fact that technology is perhaps the most dynamic sector in the world. Several new products have been showcased at this years show, including drones, cars, hard drives and music players, representing the transformation they have gone through. Click through to look at products that existed years ago and their present day versions. 2.Walkman (Then) The iconic cassette players from Sony first went on sale in 1979. The device transitioned across platforms such as CD, Mini-Disc, MP3 and music streaming before being discontinued in 2010. 3.Walkman (Now) The latest version of the Walkman was launched at the CES 2015 and features the S-Master HX processor enabling the device to stream high quality audio. 4.Smartwatch (Then) A 2-Way wrist Radio watch from 1940s, Dick Tracy featured a transmitter and a receiver. It was considered by some to be the predecessor of the modern day smartwatch. 5.Smartwatch (Now) The LG G Watch R smartwatch is compatible with the Android operating system and features a 1.2 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor. Featuring an internal memory of 4 GB and RAM of 512 MB, it also has a heart rate monitor and barometer. 6.Car (Then) A Toyota Prius on display in Tokyo, Japan, during a press preview in 1997. This car featured the much-acclaimed Toyota Hybrid System comprising a petrol engine and electric motor. 7.Car (Now) The Mercedes-Benz F 015 autonomous driving automobile on display at CES 2015. This self-driving vehicle is a concept by the German manufacturer that features four electrically powered rotating lounge chairs, which allows people to sit face-to-face. 8.Printer (Then) The dot matrix printer, used almost four decades back, worked on the mechanism of a head that moved back and forth, facilitating print-outs through the impact of a cloth soaked in ink. 9.Printer (Now) The MakerBot Replicator Mini compact 3D printer on display at the 2015 CES. This printer works on a one-touch system and is capable of printing a wide range of products in 3D, including household utensils and replacement parts. 10.Smartphone (Then) A 1990s palmtop developed by by Psion Computers plc, England, which used a stylus for operation and featured a Global Positioning System (GPS). 11.Smartphone (Now) LG G Flex 2, world’s first flexible smartphone, on showcase at CES 2015. This phone features a Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor, 2 GB DDR4 RAM and offers internal memory of up to 12.Headset (Then) A special headset worn by astronaut Jeffrey Hoffman in 1993 during a Virtual Reality session. The helmet and gloves were customised to aid in proper positioning near the telescope while standing on the end of the robot arm (RMS). 13.Headset (Now) The Samsung Gear VR worn by British presenter Rachel Riley during the 2015 CES. This virtual reality headset features an optical lens, accelerometer and offers a one-of-a-kind experience. 14.Hard Drive (Then) A 1999 hard disk drive by IBM that had a storage capacity of 6 GB. 15.Hard Drive (Now) Samsung Electronics America Executive President and COO Tim Baxter displays an SSD T1 portable solid state drive, which has a capacity of 1 TB. 16.Washing Machine (Then) Low energy consumption washing machines by Siemens on display at an electronic trade fair in 2008. The first automatic washing machine was introduced in the US several decades ago. 17.Washing Machine (Now) An LG Electronics Twin Wash System washing machine is displayed during the 2015 CES. The washer has a second, smaller washer built into the bottom of the machine for doing two different loads at once. 18.Drone (Then) The AR Drone is a remote-controlled quadrotor helicopter with a built-in camera and Wi-Fi. It could be operated by iPhone or iPod Touch. 19.Drone (Now) A DJI Inspire 1 drone, manufactured by SZ DJI Technology Co. at the CES 2015. The drone has stronger arms, made of carbon fibre, and is capable of shooting 4K resolution videos at a frame rate of 30 frames per second. 20.Camcorder (Then) The Old VHS video camera, which rose to prominence during the 1970s, made use of cassettes to record videos. 21.Camcorder (Then) The new Sony 4K Handycam, a compact video recorder, has an exceptional bitrate and uses the Balanced Optical SteadyShot (BOSS) image stabilization system. 22.HD Television (Then) A 60” High-definition (HD) television, developed by LG-owned firm Zenith, on display during an exhibition in 2003. HD technology came into existence for the first time in the US in the 1990s. 23.HD Television (Now) The 4K Ultra HD OLED TV on display at the CES 2015. TVs using OLED technology offer enhanced picture quality with high contrast and deep black levels. 24.Personal Transporter (Then) The Segway electric vehicle, pictured in 2002, was invented by Dean Kamen (L). It was powered by a battery and featured gyroscopic sensors. 25.Personal Transporter (Now) The IO Hawk, on dispay at CES 2015, is a self-balancing motorised personal transporter that can travel at a maximum speed of around 10 kmph.
Posted on: Sat, 10 Jan 2015 01:34:54 +0000
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