Information for Business from Lenovo
Darren Baguley
Contributor: Darren Baguley
Robotics and high-tech veggies on show at CEATEC 2014

1. Business applications for new glass products

An interesting trend showcased at CEATEC was the growing range of wearable computing. Interestingly, there were also a number of compelling business applications for the technology unveiled, such as an app that allows a product merchandising auditor to visit stores and check that product placement on shelves matches the space purchased. Other applications include providing additional data for blueprints or plans, and walking a technician through an unfamiliar task by showing them what they need to do next.

2. Not quite a powered combat suit

Robotics was very much in vogue at CEATEC 2014. And while the smartphone-controllable, life-size T-rex and the spiderlike ping-pong-playing robots were interesting, the Skeletonics exoskeleton, which is able to double the user's strength and speed, is available now. While not quite the powered combat suit beloved of science fiction writers, there are many applications for the technology, ranging from warehouse pickers and packers to technicians engaged in dirty and dangerous jobs.

3. 5G on its way

Somewhat more prosaic than robots, leading Japanese carrier NTT DoCoMo showcased its 5G mobile technology. The company is conducting trials with some major mobile phone manufacturers. By 2020, it expects to start rolling out a commercial network with download speeds of over 10 Gbps. No organisation, whether a microbusiness, SMB, SME or enterprise, is going to say “no” to faster mobile data, so here’s hoping it rolls out Down Under soon after 2020.

4. Would you like veggies with your (silicon) chips?

Perhaps the oddest trend was the vogue for tech companies to showcase what they’re doing in agriculture. One manufacturer theatrically demonstrated how technology is being used to grow vegetables more efficiently, while another showed how it has repurposed an old floppy disk factory to produce vegetables it will initially sell in its own cafeterias. It’s a great idea, but it’s also unlikely it will catch on in Australia.

From wearables to robotics to a dinosaur controlled by a smartphone, CEATEC once again showcased the best and worst of consumer electronics.

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