IFA REPORT 2014: complex technologies

The still young month bestows us with beautiful, sunny September days, but the Berlin exhibition halls offer something even more interesting. The IFA had masses of novelties on hand again this year. In fields where one could hardly imagine further innovations, the producers were vying amongst themselves on a grand scale. The gap between innovators and followers was evident here and it is becoming ever greater because the technologies are becoming more complex. Televisions are no longer the size of billboards but are curved in such a way as to produce a three dimensional atmosphere. Of course, HD and OLED are also included in this. The same also applies for display screens. The continuing boom in the headphone trend could also be seen at the IFA. Brands like Urban Ears, Beats by Dre or Marley are setting the trends and anyone with self-respect is likewise bringing products to the market.

Although the communicating gadgets make life easier, they do however minutely document and permanently monitor us.

A trend which can be quite controversial is the “Internet of Things”. The much beloved refrigerator, which orders the food itself, is only a small part of this. Although the communicating gadgets make life easier, they do however minutely document and permanently monitor us.

The largest pillar of mobile communication is getting a little brother: the smartwatch. Although not intended as a complete substitute for the smartphone, they support a variety of functions and disguise themselves as a wristwatch when they aren’t being used. As regards the design language, it was interesting to see that one trend is influencing large sections of the consumer electronics market: soft geometry, clear dynamics. The styling, which is characterised by geometrical silhouettes, soft edges and dynamic elements, is prevalent across all markets.