BUYING SMART
THE FUTURE OF TECH
Technology is constantly evolving and in the next few years it will hit heights that were once the work of science fiction.
BY ALEXANDRA GRZESIK
ROBERT DALY / GETTYIMAGES. COM. AU
At this year’ s highly anticipated Consumer Electronics Show, the excitement was palpable. Buyers and enthusiasts hovered around slick displays of next-generation tech, buzzing about the implications of everything from AI to VR on the market – and on our daily lives.
But while this progress is thrilling, exposure to never-ending technological development can make it challenging to find devices best suited to our individual needs. Being able to navigate updates is the key to making sustainable, worthwhile choices. To ensure you’ re equipped with the latest, the Connection breaks down the main focuses from this year’ s show.
Seamless connectivity
For those who have experienced the frustration of connecting smart home devices from different brands, look out for the new industry standard, Matter.“ Essentially, Matter gives devices a common language to talk to. It works with your Siri, Alexa, Google Home – any of the ecosystems you’ re using currently,” explains Christi Russell, Costco Australia’ s major electronics buyer. Not only will this increase user-friendliness, it will also give consumers more freedom to purchase across brands.
Matter-enabled items are already available.“ We’ ve already started updating our products to meet new interoperability standards in Australia,” explains Jeremy
12 | MAY / JUN 2023 COSTCO CONNECTION