4. Looking For: Powerline, Solar, 3D

Powerline Possibilities

A consortium of companies called the High Definition Powerline Communications Alliance will be represented in force at CES. Their goal? To convince industry insiders that a home or office’s electricity network can also transfer data. No Ethernet, no WiFi, no nothing. Panasonic is leading the charge, and we’re expecting to check out some visible proof of a system that lets charging electric vehicles be monitored via a powerline, and various other security video monitoring systems over electricity. Other Powerline groups will be at CES too, and while they’re rooting for the same basic concept, they’re going at it a slightly different way. We love a good competition for new tech standards.

Practical Solar Solutions

Solar devices of all kinds have made appearances at CES for the past several years. But more often than not, they’re bulky, slow, and ugly. This year, we’re expecting to see solar-powered devices that can hold their own against their conventionally-powered equivalents. For example, the Nextar NXBT Bluetooth handsfree kit is perfectly positioned to harness the sun’s power—it sits on the dashboard of a car! Energizer’s double and triple A solar battery has near universal appeal. Set it in sunlight to charge regular rechargeable batteries, or use its USB port to charge other devices with the sun’s power.

3D Monitors and TVs

Film and video game makers have had the ability to create 3D titles for years. But folks at home don’t have the means to access that 3D content (movie theaters are just about the only place you can). Its possible that an HDTV maker will show off a stereoscopic 3D prototype, but at least one monitor company is getting close to selling a 3D monitor. iZ3D line is custom painted—skulls or flames, anyone? IZ3D includes special drivers to access the 3D vision inside many PC and console games, as well as those dorky 3D glasses.