Image: CES
While reviews of CES 2016 were published last week by the score, a surprise one came from Target's top brass, who all descended on Las Vegas "to share and discover more about the future of technologies like the Internet of Things (IoT), virtual reality, robotics and more."
On the company's corporate blog, The Bullseye View, Target's CEO, Brian Cornell, raved about Samsung's innovation across appliances, refrigerators, watches, speakers, phones, TVs and air vents. He said, "They will be introducing some really terrific products in the near future and I look forward to seeing the consumer response to these new technologies."
Speaking of wearables such as smart watches and fitness trackers, Jeff Jones, chief marketing officer, said, "A tidal wave of newness is coming to fitness technology and many companies are on the cusp of changing the game."
Overall, ten executives, including several buyers, touted a wide range of tech wonders they saw at the show. These also included developments around IoT, robotics, high-depth TVs, VR headsets, health and wellness products with personal diagnostics, and 3D-printed headphones.
"It's amazing to see the continued progression every year at CES; TVs get clearer, appliances get smarter, wearables get hipper and cars come to life," said Kristi Argyilan, SVP Media & Guest Engagement.
Target's coverage comes as CES, formerly the Consumer Electronics Show, has evolved from a standard trade show for retail buyers of consumer electronics and gadget launches to more of a branding show. Small and larger retailers in the automotive, biotech, health, fitness, telecomm and mobile providers space now sit alongside Sony and the other electronics giants hawking their innovations.
Wrote Amy Messenger on the Ogilvy & Mather's blog: "CES has become the debutante ball for any company wanting to unveil its inner technological greatness."
Indeed, many of the drones, robots and virtual reality headsets getting press aren't expected to become household items. Wrote Chris Preimesberger for eweek.com, "If you think for one minute that CES 2016 isn't about razzle-dazzle ahead of everything else, then you are a misguided person."