CES 2010 Flashes Green

With much of the focus on green technology in recent years, the Consumer Electronics industry, for the first time, appears poised to introduce products that are good performers in addition to power conservers. From wirelessly-powered televisions to low-power OLED products, CES 2010 will be remembered as the harbinger of green performance. Although there has been no shortage of more efficient and interesting ways to charge cell phones on display, 2010 is ready to show meat-and-potatoes gear that is energy smart. CES promoters are making the entire process greener, with catering and venue providers all touting more environmentally-friendly practices. The 2010 version of the Sustainable Planet Zone at CES should see some innovation, and at the very least, expansion of offerings.

With CES 2010 poised to see fewer attendees than in years' past, new companies are coming forth to usher in new technologies that not only satisfy environmentalists, but performance buffs. This is no small feat, especially in a realm where the type of cable used can, to some, make or break the (perceived) performance of an item. Modern home technology is moving rapidly into a wireless arena, so the onus is back on established hardware producers to make sure the gear performs without cable crutches. This is an example of the type of shift from old thinking to addressing consumer concern, where brand name tends to be less important than cost-effectiveness and performance. This is a good thing in an industry traditionally stagnated by iteration vs innovation. We review a few key pieces from known and new brands that should shift the landscape for the foreseeable future, while setting the pace for future innovators and existing brands slow on the uptake.

Samsung in late 2007 attempted to address the performance/green gap with their impressive LED-based LCD televisions. The European Imaging and Sound Association (EISA) was also impressed, issuing Samsung five associated awards in 2009. This year, Samsung is poised to make all of their LCD offerings LED-based, and in so doing, distance themselves from fellow competitors wanting to join the green race. Samsung in 2010 will introduce three new OLED (organic light-emitting diode) based units, exemplifying what can be done in all shapes and sizes. Currently, OLED technology is prohibitively expensive beyond 30 inches, so much of what has been seen is small. For CES 2010, Samsung will present 14" qFHD 3-D OLED prototype. Displays like this have high contrast (100,000:1) and is just over 1mm thick. Due to the lack of crosstalk, OLED displays are poised to walk hand-in-hand with 3-D technology, and this example, although small, shows how this is possible. Also on display is a 14" semi-transparent OLED panel, chiefly designed to laptops and portable devices. When off, the screen is 60% opaque, allowing users to see through the screen. Additionally, Samsung is showing off a 2" OLED flexible panel, designed to be used for smaller portable application, such as cell phones and music players. Originally demonstrated in Japan some years back, this technology is still a little too expensive and delicate for mass usage. AMOLED is a technology Samsung is actually manufacturing in its new IceTouch devices. A fully-transparent iteration of OLED, AMOLED is scratchproof glass substrate-based and otherwise ideal for a portable application. Samsung, as one of the world's largest manufacturers, should get a good foothold on reducing that lack of efficiency; the IceTouch devices are evidence of that. OLED, from a performance perspective, offers nearly 180 degrees of off-axis visibility and extremely high contrast ratios. From a design perspective, OLEDs are easily the thinnest panels on the market, and produce exceptional colors. Because of the performance and efficiency, OLED, and the companies that march in strong with it, should be panel market leaders for years to come.

Crestron, one of the leaders in high-budget home automation, recently unveiled Green Light. The program allows residential programmers to set energy usage thresholds and let the system manage when and where devices are regulated. The system is designed to have a real impact on issues such as lamp life, power consumption, and regulation of devices that are "turned off" (sometimes still consuming as much as 40% as when on). Although always a selling feature, the ability to program devices specifically targeted at energy conservation other than lighting is relatively new territory in practice, but not in concept. Crestron will prominently display these and the rest of their renowned automation systems at CES 2010.

Finally, A new company called Tenrehte is introducing smartphone and PC-controllable Wi-Fi power systems, that look like nothing more than extension cords. Introducing the PICOwatt, Tenrehte is attempting to introduce an affordable version of that which Crestron and other automation companies have done for years - automation over IP - but in a more affordable, modular fashion. As opposed to having to commit to an entire home's worth of elaborate control, Tenrehte allows homeowners to individually purchase a PICOwatt, and address it (and the connected appliance) individually. High-consumption appliances can now be singled out, and commanded to operate only during off-peak hours. This also allows homeowners to not feel compelled to purchase new appliances, touted to be more energy-efficient. The PICOwatt can turn clunkier appliances into efficient devices, by virtue of controlling when they operate.

CES 2010 is poised to be the first year where green tech really struts itself. The Sustainable Planet Zone is expected to have an additional ten vendors on display from 2009, and with the market open to new innovation, should increase even further in years to come.