Technology & IT | Saturday 20 August, 2016 5:27 am |

As the world’s leading trade show for consumer electronics, IFA 2016 will be a platform for forward-looking technology brands to showcase their innovations from 2 to 7 September. Ahead of the much sought-after show by technology tastemakers and influencers, LG sheds light on the various consumer trends that will be reflected at the show.

 

While many trends come into play at IFA 2016, the underlying driver of trends is the consumer interest in sustaining each individual’s personalized lifestyle. Technology has progressed to the point where innovation is no longer about creating a better life; instead, it is the desire to create a better lifestyle for consumers that underpins the most exciting new products.

 

“As a thought leader in consumer electronics and home appliances, LG is cognizant of the tremendous trendsetting role IFA plays in the industry,” said Mr. Yong Geun Choi, President of LG Electronics Gulf. “This year’s focus is not merely about product utility as products have begun to take on aesthetic elements that serve little in the way of function but lend devices an aura of class and stylish sophistication; therefore, lifestyle benefits and social status are seen to be key drivers as more and more consumers use forward-thinking technology to denote their lifestyle.”

 

Attendees at IFA 2016 can expect the debut of some of the most exciting technologies on the planet. The following are just a handful of the trends expected to impress businesses as well as consumers this year.

 

Unifying IoT Technologies at Work and in the Home – Even if IoT applications are still experimental for B2C brands, industry players should prepare now for the next wave of brand innovation, powered by sensors and connectivity that will explode beyond mobile. In the near future, IoT will enable brands to create and deepen their relationships with consumers and force marketing departments to shift from managing products to crafting experiences.

 

In the home, the appetite for connected appliances and electronics that helps users communicate their elite status is what many will be talking about at IFA 2016. Smart home appliances have many industry insiders excited about the LG SIGNATURE collection. The stylish new line of premium appliances brings advanced, intuitive technology into the home. And through the LG SmartThinQ smart home hub, consumers can easily establish a single preferred operational ecosystem within the home. 

 

Home Appliances Built to Last – A common theme found among new and innovative products today is that they are constantly critiqued and compared to their predecessors, which is because most of today’s products are designed for planned obsolescence due to the assumption manufacturers take that users will soon be replacing the device sooner or later. However, new consumer trends are giving rise to durable products with extended warranties, and some of these warranties last as long as two-decades, such as LG’s Centum washing machine. 
 

Virtual Reality: Envisioning the Future - Virtual reality (VR) goggles have been a prevailing trend at tech expos for several cycles now. An increasing number of manufacturers are offering models capable of creating immersive three-dimensional environments. In addition, a growing number of smartphones can be converted into virtual reality goggles. Extending beyond the games and quirky apps that have dominated past tradeshows, IFA 2016 will see a number of innovative cameras capable of producing VR images. These 360-degree cameras like the LG 360 Cam capture the entire surrounding environment and represent the future of photography. 

 

Wearables Gain Momentum - Smart watches and other wearables are another trend set to dominate IFA 2016. Working independently or in combination with a smartphone, these devices combine health-tracking capabilities with next-generation usability. Attendees can expect to see a number of exciting new smart watches and fitness bracelets debut at IFA 2016. In keeping with the trend toward greater health tracking, new premium smartphones at IFA will all boast fitness sensors and other health capabilities. Smart wearables represent the future of tele-medical services, with many gains that enable senior citizens to live independently.

 

UHD Takes Center Stage - Ultra-HD (UHD) televisions have risen quickly since entering flagship ranges just a few short years ago and have already taken a prominent place in the mass market. UHD TVs feature four times the pixels per inch compared to Full HD, and they also offer greater contrast that far exceeds previous displays. In addition, high dynamic range (HDR) creates such bright lights that viewers cannot help but become immersed in the scenes depicted on screen. HDR has become the new normal. 

 

Ultra HD Premium specifications allow for slightly lower peak brightness on screens using OLED technology because these screens are unable to emit as much light as their LCD. However, OLED screens achieve much deeper black levels, depicting dark scenes in exquisite detail. This allows OLED to achieve an impressive infinite contrast ratio.

 

“At IFA 2016, the innovative technology brands of today have the opportunity to demonstrate revolutionary new home entertainment technologies such as LG’s OLED TVs which display true black in a way other TV technologies sold today just can’t. IFA will provide a preview into how innovative, connected, and stylish products deliver lifestyle benefits and consumer trends unparalleled before not only in home entertainment but across the board,” concluded Choi.