CES 2015: 5 need-to-know issues for the enterprise

Anh Nguyen January 9, 2015

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1. The wireless office - brought to you by Intel

Intel CEO Brian Krzanich sharing one of Intel's newest products during Intel's keynote address. Image credit: CES

Intel CEO Brian Krzanich’s keynote at the International CES in Las Vegas featured a demo of a tablet being charged wirelessly after being placed on a table.

The company is partnering with Marriott to bring wireless computing to hotels later this year. Its other partners include Hilton, Dupont, Emirates and San Francisco airport.

2. BlackBerry hopes for comeback with IoT for the enterprise

BlackBerry hopes to go back to its enterprise roots with a new offering - an Internet of Things (IoT) platform designed for businesses.

It will start by trying to sell the platform to companies that need to keep track of valuable things that move around a lot, such as the automotive and shipping industries. Energy and healthcare are also potential industrial applications in the future.

3. Ford's CTO says the future’s driverless

Ford Motor Company president and CEO Mark Fields shares his vision for the future of automotive technology at Ford's keynote address. Image credit: CES

Ford’s chief technology officer (CTO) Raj Nair brushed off naysayers and claimed that driverless cars will reach the masses.

Presumably this will be enabled by technology like Nvidia's 'mobile super chip', Tegra X1, which it says will help achieve truly self-driving cars. The chip will help in the development of intelligent cars that recognise objects, images, signs and lanes.

4. 3D printing branches out into composite materials

The new materials will work with any of MakerBot's fifth generation Replicator printers. Image credit: MakerBot

MakerBot, one of the best-known makers of desktop 3D printers, said its products will be able to print objects using composite materials that combine plastic with wood, metal or stone.

A demonstration of a 3D printed hammer at CES suggests wider applications of the technology, for example by manufacturers or retailers who might use it to print spare parts or other hardware.

5. Smart devices dominate this year's CES - but what about data security?

Smart Watches on display at the 2015 CES. image credit: CES

Forrester analyst Tyler Shields was bemused to find that data security did not appear to be a high priority for any of the smart device vendors at CES - or at least the people manning the booths did not appear to be very savvy on the subject.

A top US Federal Trade Commissioner has also warned that while internet connected devices have great potential, tech companies should put more effort into protecting consumer privacy and security.