January 4, 2018
The last week of December is a great time to reflect on the year that was, and to look ahead to the new year. As the calendar turns, new technologies and innovations are among our favorite things to watch for. So, we talked with a few of our technical experts about which trends in consumer electronics they see coming up on the horizon in 2018.
Products that are increasingly talkative.
IEEE Member George K. Thiruvathukal, Professor of Computer Science at Loyola University Chicago: “I expect to see a continued uptick in the use of natural language processing. The technology is really coming of age. Not only are we getting better at recognizing language, but speech synthesis has made substantial inroads.”
Thus far, phones and speakers have been the flagship applications of natural language processing. But that same advanced technology will start to crop up in lots of products, from cars and TVs to appliances and healthcare devices.
Devices that more fully integrate with our daily lives.
According to IEEE Senior Member Artur Ziviani, Professional Senior Technologist, “In the next few years we will see an increasing number of applications and devices based on data analytics and machine learning that should also work in a more integrated form to ease many of our daily tasks.”
Smart applications and devices are generating an increasing amount of personal data related to our tastes, preferences, habits, and behavior. This will allow them to operate in less intrusive yet more effective ways.
What development are you most looking forward to? Comment on this post on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to let us know.





AI Through Our Ages
Liquid Infrastructure: Our Planet's Most Precious Resource
The Impact of Technology in 2025
Quantum and AI: Safeguards or Threats to Cybersecurity?
Why AI Can't Live Without Us
Bits, Bytes, Buildings and Bridges: Digital-Driven Infrastructure
Impact of Technology in 2024
Emerging AI Cybersecurity Challenges and Solutions
The Skies are Unlimited
Smart Cities 2030: How Tech is Reshaping Urbanscapes
Impact of Technology 2023
Cybersecurity for Life-Changing Innovations
Smarter Wearables Healthier Life
The Global Impact of IEEE's 802 Standards
How Millennial Parents are Embracing Health and Wellness Technologies for Their Generation Alpha Kids
Space Exploration, Technology and Our Lives
Global Innovation and the Environment
How Technology, Privacy and Security are Changing Each Other (And Us)
Find us in booth 31506, LVCC South Hall 3 and experience the Technology Moon Walk
Virtual and Mixed Reality
How Robots are Improving our Health
IEEE Experts and the Robots They are Teaching
See how millennial parents around the world see AI impacting the lives of their tech-infused offspring
Take the journey from farm to table and learn how IoT will help us reach the rising demand for food production
Watch technical experts discuss the latest cyber threats
Explore how researchers, teachers, explorers, healthcare and medical professionals use immersive technologies
Follow the timeline to see how Generation AI will be impacted by technology
Learn how your IoT data can be used by experiencing a day in a connected life
Listen to technical experts discuss the biggest security threats today
See how tech has influenced and evolved with the Games
Enter our virtual home to explore the IoT (Internet of Things) technologies
Explore an interactive map showcasing exciting innovations in robotics
Interactively explore A.I. in recent Hollywood movies
Get immersed in technologies that will improve patients' lives