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Q4-4 Is Open Source Software a Viable Alternative?

So New from CES 2015 169
WhaT?

What’s new in hardware? It’s the Consumer Electronics Show (CES)
held in Las Vegas every January: 3,600 exhibitors and 170,000-
plus hardware-gawking attendees whipped to frenzy by loud music,
screaming video, and hyperventilating media. It’s a show that only
Las Vegas can do!
What’s hot this year? How about:
1. Mercedes-Benz F015: At the top of everyone’s list of must-see
innovations at CES 2015 was the new driverless Mercedes-
Benz F015. This isn’t just a driverless car. It’s one of the first
cars designed specifically as a driverless vehicle, not just an
adaptation of a traditional driver-centric vehicle. It’s more like
a futuristic silver carriage with saloon-style doors. Inside the
F015, passengers sit facing each other, chatting while the car
does the driving. They are surrounded by interactive touch Source: VECTORWORKS_ENTERPRISE/Shutterstock
screens that can control the entire vehicle. Passengers can even
control the car using hand gestures and eye movements.
The F015 is a fuel-cell plug-in hybrid with a range of that you’re 20 minutes away and that it should start warming
about 680 miles. Those aren’t stressful driving miles either. the house up. Your bread maker is nearly done with a fresh loaf
Passengers can chat, work, or even sleep the whole way. The of bread, your lights are ready to turn on the instant you pull
Mercedes-Benz F015 will likely change the way people think in the drive, and you’re getting live streaming video of your dog
about travel. playing in the backyard.
Oh, and the F015 can talk too. Pedestrians walking in front The convergence between home automation and IoT is
of the F015’s hear its voice telling them that it’s safe to cross going to produce some really interesting products over the next
in front of it. The F015 then projects a crosswalk in front of couple of years. Watch for new announcements from Nest Labs
the car to guide pedestrians across the street. If you want at CES 2016.
to see what cars will look like 10 to 15 years from now, check 3. Composite Filaments: MakerBot really pushed 3D printing
out the F015. ahead this year when it introduced several new composite
2. Works with Nest: Nest Labs made big strides over the past year filaments. These composite filaments combine traditional PLA
after being acquired by Google in 2014 for $3.2B. Nest Labs is (polylactic acid) thermoplastic with materials like wood, bronze,
best known for its smart thermostat and smart smoke detector. iron, and limestone. They can be used to 3D-print objects that
But Nest Labs is quickly becoming known more broadly as a look and behave like their real-world counterparts.
home automation company. Network-enabled smart devices Wood furniture can be printed, sanded, and stained just
using Nest standards can be controlled remotely and interact like real wood. And it feels like wood too. Metal objects like
with other devices and applications. jewelry, tools, and parts can be printed and polished and look
At the CES 2015 show, the list of “Works with Nest” just like their pure-metal cousins. Even the limestone composite
partners grew beyond Whirlpool, LG, Mercedes-Benz, Logitech, filament produces objects that look and feel like real limestone.
and August Smart Lock. New companies included Pebble MakerBot’s new composite filaments are important because
(smartwatch), Rachio (sprinklers), Interactive Voice (voice- they make it economical to now print in metal, wood, and stone.
activated alarm clock), and Life360 (smartphone tracking In the past it was possible to 3D-print in metal, but metal laser
app). Nest Labs is positioning itself to be the leader in home sintering was expensive. These new composite filaments make
automation services. it possible to print objects like a hammer that have both metal
As more IoT devices come online, expect to see them get the and wood parts. The downside is that printing with these new
Works with Nest label. This will allow devices to dynamically composite filaments requires a unique print head for each type of
communicate with each other to create new synergies that filament. For most consumers, the cost of an additional print head
didn’t exist before. Imagine your car telling your thermostat to print in each additional material will probably be a minor issue.