Sony unleashed a torrent of new products and prototypes at CES 2024, showcasing their latest innovations in transportation, entertainment, and AI robotics. From an electric sedan to glasses-free 3D TVs, Sony’s presentations revealed an ambitious vision across multiple high-tech sectors.
Sony Dives Into Electric Vehicles with the Vision-E Sedan
In a long-rumored move, Sony finally took the wraps off their first passenger electric vehicle – the Vision-E sedan. Sporting sleek lines, suicide doors, and a bevy of screens and sensors, the Vision-E previews Sony’s intended design language as they aim to compete with the likes of Tesla and Lucid.
While no specifications were provided, Sony confirmed the Vision-E will feature advanced driver assistance capabilities powered by sensors like LiDAR and radar. Inside the minimalist cabin, displays stretch across the dashboard to create an “immersive digital cockpit” tailored to each passenger. Sony also touted the Vision-E’s “media features” for enjoying music, movies, and games on the go.
| Vision-E Sedan Features | |
|---|---|
| Electric powertrain (details undisclosed) | Immersive digital cockpit with panoramic displays |
| Advanced driver assistance tech (LiDAR, radar, etc) | Ability to stream media and play games |
| Suicide doors | Head-up display with AR capabilities |
The Vision-E remains a concept model for now. But with Sony promising to establish an electric mobility division in 2025, they appear committed to delivering a production vehicle soon. While the EV market grows more crowded by the day, Sony’s history as an electronics innovator suggests they could still reshape consumer expectations.
Feel the Action with Sony’s Glasses-Free 3D Display
Sony also showcased multiple display advancements, headlined by their glasses-free 3D concept model. Using eye-tracking and parallax barriers to beam separate images to each eye, the 4K 3D display creates an autostereoscopic effect without cumbersome 3D glasses.
Upscaling 2D video to 3D in real time, Sony’s prototype allows users to enjoy immersive, pop-out visuals across games, movies, and streaming content. And intelligent eye tracking optimizes the 3D sweet spot regardless of the viewer’s position.
While similarly ambitious glasses-free 3D efforts have faltered before, Sony expressed confidence their model is nearing commercial viability within a few years. If achieved, it could finally help 3D video achieve mainstream appeal by removing a significant barrier to enjoyment.
Beyond 3D, Sony also introduced new Crystal LED displays with jaw-dropping 1000 inch versions targeted at corporate lobbies and theme parks. And all Sony TVs going forward will shift to easier-to-recycle designs using less plastic and more sustainable materials – setting an eco-friendly industry precedent.
Cute but Savvy – Sony’s new AI Assistant Aimed at Home and Business
Sony pulled back the curtain on the Bocchi AI assistant, a 3D animated character capable of intelligent conversation and helpful tasks within both households and corporate settings.
Reminiscent of anime mascots, the big-eyed Bocchi features advanced speech recognition for natural conversations. Sony envisions households asking Bocchi for information like weather forecasts, calendar reminders, music playback, and online search queries.
But Bocchi’s utility extends beyond the home. In offices, Sony promoted using Bocchi AI companions as receptionists, product presenters, and concierge staff. Bocchi can greet guests, facilitate sign-ins and badging, answer frequently asked questions, schedule meetings, and even guide visitors to destinations using integrated mapping data.
| Bocchi AI Assistant Features | |
|---|---|
| Friendly anime-inspired avatar with emotional expressions | Enterprise applications as virtual receptionist/concierge |
| Speech recognition and natural voice interactions | Integration with Sony smart home and media products |
| Informational queries (weather, search engine lookups, etc) | Customizable to support new use cases over time |
Rather than static job replacement, Sony framed Bocchi as uniquely adept at enhancing customer and employee experiences thanks to its approachable personality. But the 3D avatar represents another step towards mainstream comfort with human-like AI personas.
What’s Next? Sony’s Long-Term Goals on Display
While CES 2024 marked Sony’s biggest product showcase in years, their execs made clear it’s only the tip of the iceberg in realizing their vision.
On transportation, Sony reinforced they are proceeding full speed ahead with a forthcoming electric vehicle brand – centered on user experience – to target the exploding EV market.
Likewise, Sony underlined their commitment towards sustainable manufacturing across all electronics categories – aiming to fully eliminate plastic packaging by 2030.
And in software, Sony touts a new centralized operating system that will unite products like Bravia TVs, Playstation consoles, and mobile devices via shared ecosystem.
With Sony expanding into electric vehicles, ramping up its AI and software ambitions, yet staying grounded by environmental goals, their intertwined CES 2024 announcements underscore a company increasingly pooling resources around targeted high-tech sectors. While risks remain in taking on new competitive spaces like the EV arena, Sony appears ready to leverage its unique blend of hardware and content capabilities towards consumer experiences exceeding the sum of their parts.
Table of Contents:
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Sony Dives Into Electric Vehicles with the Vision-E Sedan
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Feel the Action with Sony’s Glasses-Free 3D Display
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Cute but Savvy – Sony’s new AI Assistant Aimed at Home and Business
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What’s Next? Sony’s Long-Term Goals on Display
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