The big IFA (Internationale Funkausstellung) in Berlin which from 31 August to 5 September showcases consumer electronics and smart appliances, shows off the usual big data, with an extension of 159 thousand square meters and 1.805 exhibitors. But some problems begin to have him. Not only because first-time exhibitors are down (slightly, by 1 percent) but also because the era of gigantic kermesses is no longer what it used to be. Consumption crisis, extremely similar products, influence of the large retail chains on producers, bloody price war conducted in dumping by the e-commerce giants and, finally, increasingly unsustainable costs for innovation. IFA has thus decided on a policy of alliances with other fairs to broaden the exhibition platform to include transport and the automotive sector in particular. Furthermore, an external area, IFA NEKT, at Potsdamer Platz, is dedicated to start-ups. All sectors have in common a strong integration which, according to the experts, involves and "overwhelms" the industrial borders. Are TVs and appliances controlled by voice? Outdated: a hologram suspended in the air with virtual buttons now becomes the remote control for the house, the car, the smartphone. The voice, voice assistants are now made available everywhere for the dialogue between the user and the CAS, even if almost all in English. From the car we can use the voice with an innovative vocal micro-assistant that allows you to send commands to electronic and electrical devices in the home and office.
The markets according to GFK
Global consumer electronics markets grew in 2018 and year-end sales are expected to exceed US$976 trillion for the first time compared to 2017 billion in 70; Europe, North America and China account for about 2018 percent of total sales. During IFA, GFK releases complete data on the performance of the various markets, according to product typology. As for Italy, the second quarter of 0,9, again according to GFK data, decreased by almost one percentage point (4,1 per cent for a total of 2018 billion euro, a fall held back only by sales in increase in telecommunications and small household appliances). In mid-1,3, thanks to the good performance of the first quarter, the final balance shows an increase of XNUMX per cent but with a negative trend that has now started starting from the beginning of March.
EISA, excellence-Electronics now churns out millions and millions of product-copies that differ in their belonging to the different price ranges but to choose something special there is an extraordinary parameter, the prizes EISA (European Imaging and Sound Association), awarded every year on the occasion of IFA by 56 magazines from 25 countries to TVs, cameras, audio devices and TLC-smartphones at the highest level. And it is from these choices and from press previews that we drew the first trends.
Voice and Artificial Intelligence
Artificial intelligence (or the good old fuzzy logic, humanoid irrational logic) is applied above all to give extremely easy access to favorite contents, with the mass integration, even in the whisks, of voice assistants (Google Home and Google Assistant, Amazon's Alexa Echo and others) and therefore just talk to the TV, the fridge, the sprinkler, the smartphone, for any function. But also to get news, recipes, online assistance, even repairs, the reordering of detergents ... The trend today distinguishes high-end TVs in particular, which "accompany" the user in use, even choosing according to the his tastes. An increasingly "invasive" trend, but we have seen how video content is already - by a Chinese multinational - modeled and available on the basis of a scientific analysis of behaviors, habits, preferences (even secret ones). Up to the analysis of the physical reactions during the vision to identify well not only the tastes but also - alarmingly - the personality.
TV already with 8K resolution
EISA has awarded a Samsung OLED TV of the 8K generation, a resolution 16 times greater than the current Full HD, and this is now the main road of domestic entertainment even though there is a lack of broadcaster content with this resolution. Samsung has expanded its range of large Frame designs (the screen can have any image, once it is switched off, becoming a picture to avoid the unsightly “hollow-black” effect) with other formats. Also awarded was a mega 175” LG MicroLed display less than 80 mm thin. But we will also see the umpteenth preview (Samsung for example) of a flexible and unbreakable TV panel ... While LG, moreover, already integrates all its TVs into the Thin Q Artificial Intelligence platform.
The audio of the cinema
TCL's new C76 Series has an advanced JBL audio system, consisting of 2-way front speakers, DTS decoding and surround processing technology that delivers extraordinary sound quality. At the CES in Las Vegas in January, it received the IDG award for “Smart TV of the Year with the best audio-visual experience in the world”. Among the EISA awards, one of the ones that has received the most applause from the journalists of the juries is an exceptional JBL headphones (always at the top), the Endurance Dive, wireless, waterproof, which even underwater remains perfectly adherent, and have a memory integrated up to 200 music tracks (1 Giga). For lovers of enveloping and exciting home cinema, Eisa awarded a high-range OLED TV from Philips equipped with an exceptional sound system because it is the result of technologies developed with a famous brand, Bowers&Wilkins.
The house is an eco-system
From the IoT, i.e. from the single connected household appliance or TV, to the entire range of connected devices, with Artificial Intelligence platforms, connected to each other and in the network, controllable and managed remotely. An integration not only of individual appliances but also of other domestic systems, such as security, home cinema, outdoor fitness... The Haier operating system, U+Smart Life which is presented in Berlin integrated compared to the 2017 version , brings together not only household appliances but every domestic system. However, the philosophy is more than the number of connected devices because it transforms each of these into an information and entertainment center (especially the fridge) with advanced functions. The washer dryer, for example, thanks to Amazon's Dash button-service, reorders the detergent or other washing products before it runs out. LG Electronics will make a spectacular presentation (repeat of the mega show recently held in Seoul) of its LGThinkQ platform, with the company's top management highlighting, among other features, a strong interoperability, its openness to other systems and devices LG and services that already operate on AI. It is the first air conditioner in the world that analyzes the ambient air quickly as a micro-laboratory to transform it into healthy air according to everyone's needs.
Vacuum packed and connected, even the whisk
The rush to purchase small household appliances knows no stops with increases in sales all over the world and compared to the old deafening devices the panorama has changed; most of the robots that "process" the foods cook them autonomously and respond to the owner via smartphone. But they also download recipes from the internet based on what's in the fridge. Krups and Moulinex blenders even work under vacuum so smoothies, baby food and smoothies last three times longer because by removing the oxygen before blending, oxidation is eliminated. Instead of the smashing robot, here are the new Morphy Richards that start silently emitting progressive buzzes, nor can they be outdone by the washing machine and the fridge that converse away
Apps, because even food processors have their own Apps to process the ingredients according to the downloaded recipes and consult the user. The top, however, are the large household appliances: Samsung and Haier present collections of built-in Maiaps of great design (Haier even declared its homage to Italy by calling its most beautiful collections with the word Casarte). LG achieves the maximum by exhibiting in a spectacular Signature frame a large drying cabinet with anti-bacterial and anti-crease treatment, very elegant, which can also be controlled by voice for the whole family. Above all, the Italian Candy who, with a scenographic stand, will present her smart home with a special event, far ahead of the others, communicative and extremely refined.
