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While we are in the midst of the college and NFL playoffs, there is a major event that just ended in Las Vegas. One of the biggest conventions in the world takes place at the beginning of the January each year. The Consumer Electronics Show has literally anything you could expect to see in the world of technology. I had the pleasure of attending and working at the 2011 CES event, and it was one of the most fun weeks I have ever had (even if my feet were killing me at the end of the week).

CES is almost like going to a different world. Las Vegas itself is a strange place to go and is like nothing else in the country, but add CES on top of it, and it’s a great mix of technology, gambling, nerds, and a fun time.

When I was at CES (working for Samsung), the big thing was 3D TV’s. That fad seems to have passed and moved on to 3D printers instead. Taking cool technology on a screen and putting it into real life is what it’s all about between 3D printing and wearable technology. As usual, this year had the coolest gadgets and gizmos on display, most of which we won’t see in a store or available for purchase for a while.

Here are some of the items that stood out to me:

Best Tech Term

One of the big things this year was the phrase “Internet of Things“. As boring and vague as that sounds, the IoT is a phrase that was coined for the communication that your tech has with other tech. It’s the ideal that major companies such as Samsung, Intel, and more are using as they all try to grab a piece of the pie in creating the network that your whole life communicates with. Basically, it’s almost a form of artificial intelligence that you as a user control, but that helps ease your life.

Some things already exist, such as being able to change the thermostat or lock your door with your phone. However, those are all controlled by us. The IoT will be the platform that all of those devices use to communicate with each other, and the next big step is to make it where your devices use the IoT to communicate with each other…on their own. You don’t have to unlock the door, then come in and turn the lights on, change the thermostat, turn the TV on, and start pre-heating the oven. When you pull up to your house, it will know, and “something” will do all of that for you.

Creepy, right?

More like inevitable, so get used to it. Another area where this is taking place is in your cars. We’ve already seen the creation of cars that drive themselves from the likes of Google, but now that technology is looking to grow even more, by communicating with your other devices and help “ease” your way of life.

As long as the IoT doesn’t become self-aware, then it’s all cool.

Best Wearable Tech

When you think of the phrase “wearable tech,” you typically think about the new futuristic watches, or t-shirts with heart rate monitors, or something like that. But I have to give it to a pair of ear buds that have changed what ear buds or headphones have ever been meant to do. Usually, we rely on our phones to help us keep up with our music, and maybe be a GPS while out running, or have a pedometer on it. Now, a company called Bragi has created ear buds that can do all sorts of things, wirelessly. “The Dash“ are not only wireless headphones, but they also are a heart rate monitor, a hands-free device, a personal trainer, and have intuitive touch-based controls. This is the next evolution of wearable tech, and it’s wearable tech that you actually might want to…wear.

Best Home Entertainment Product

I’ve written about this already, but Sling TV is the way of the future for TV. Dish is offering a package for $20 a month that gives you TNT, TBS, CNN, Food Network, HGTV, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, Disney, ESPN, and ESPN2. No contract, just TV channels for way less than your cable bill. Check out my full write up here.

Best Innovation

This is a piece of technology that can change the way we interact with everything. Energous has created a system called WattUp, which wirelessly charges your devices from up to 15 feet away. Imagine that you had one panel in your room, and it could charge your phone, tablet, camera, computer accessories, game devices, and more all by just having them in the room with you. Wireless charging before has existed, but only if you at least made contact with a device. Energous has created something that sends out a charge to your devices by bouncing it around the room until it finds it. Before you think the charges it’s sending out are radioactive and will deform your skull or something, it actually operates on the same waves that wi-fi does, and we’ve been around it for a while now and haven’t died yet. This product isn’t out yet, but it’s coming and will change everything.

Best Celebrity Appearance

Nick Cannon was there, Kanye was there, Snoop Dogg was there, Tony Hawk was there. But I have to give it to will.i.am for actually working on a piece of tech and showing it off. He’s not the first celebrity to jump in with a company and help design a product, that happens all the time. But while most people just slap their name on something, or just show up to CES to sing a song or too, will.i.am has created something unique. His smart watch, i.amPULS, is basically a smart watch that doesn’t need some other device to run on. It runs on it’s own, and plays music, makes calls, reads your heartbeat, and shares all this information socially. He’s also working on products that can be added to other pieces of clothing to communicate with the watch, and let the watch be at the center of it all, instead of a phone or computer.

Best Game Tech

Razer always has great products. I was able to check out some of their cool stuff at CES when I went before, but they always come up with something new to steal the show. Never mind that I’m typing this from a Razer keyboard and mouse. However, the Razer Turret is something to keep an eye on. PC gaming isn’t going anywhere, but as the offerings continue to increase, the Razer Turret makes it where you can game from your couch on your PC with ease. It’s obviously wireless, but the mouse stays put a little better due to a magnet in it keeping it on the pad. The whole thing is long enough it fits on your lap and with a full keyboard and mouse to control with, it makes gaming a breeze no matter where you are in the room. We’ll see how the magnet holds up as it might make control a bit harder, but it’s supposed to keep the mouse from flying off the pad when you shift your body.

I also have to mention the Steelseries Sentry Eye Tracker. It may not really hold anything special for anyone because no one really cares where on the computer you’re looking, but it might help with gamers who need to be focusing on the right things at the right time. If you’re raiding in World of Warcraft, you need to make sure to look at certain things at the right time. This can help train you. It might not be a great piece of tech now, but it’s possibilities down the line are great.

Weirdest Product

The weirdest product has to go to Belty, a belt that auto-adjusts when you need it to. Just eaten a big meal? Belty can sense that and it releases a bit when you stand up from eating. It’s basically a motorized belt (with a slightly bigger than I want belt buckle that holds the tech) that senses when it needs to change. It also keeps track of your different waist sizes which can be good for losing/gaining weight. The problem is when Belty becomes self-aware and doesn’t let go. You’re in the mood, but poor old Belty is hanging on for dear life. You see where I’m going.

Dumbest Product

My nod for dumbest product has to go to Stir. Stir is basically a desk that auto adjusts at certain times so that you change position while working to get a little exercise. That’s just what I want, I’m in the middle of working on a big project and 100% focused on my computer, and my desk starts lifting up in the air taking my computer away from me. Then right when I get situated standing up to continue working, it drops to the ground and takes it away from me again. I just want to sit in peace. If it’s healthy to get up and walk around every 30 minutes to an hour, then set an alarm or something, don’t take my desk away from me. I’m not saying it’s not good to move around, I typically get up every hour or so and go do something else, but come on…

Most Unnecessary Product

The Belfie Stick. Just listen to some of these testimonials on their website:

“I got my squat game down on lock shooting belfies every day to check up on my progress!” – Marcos from Miami

“I never again have to take pics in the bathroom. I can’t tell you how many times Ive dropped my iphone trying to take pics. I love it! Thank God they invented belfiestick!” Lauren from LA

“I can’t believe they invented this, it’s totally insane! Everyone is hurtin holding their phones trying to get the right precise angle. Bend over, snap a pic & done! Belfiestick rulez!!!.” Ellen from Michigan

This was actually a product at CES. Thank goodness I know that someone out there has invented a stick that I can attach my phone to so I can take a photo of my ass. Look out world.