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 New gadgets that will define 2016
    by ANN-MARIE ALCÁNTARA

Imagine an umbrella letting you know not to forget it. Or an infant car seat that wants to make sure your baby is going to have the safest ride ever. These are just two of the highlights from 2016's Consumer Electronics Show — the exhibition that defines technology trends and showcases gadgets for the year ahead.

Compared to recent years, the show's big themes weren't much different — there was still an emphasis on ideas like the smart home, virtual reality, and fitness gadgets. What was different was a greater push from companies to make these ideas more accessible to the average person with practical gadgets. Other areas of life, like beauty and parenting, broke out more high-tech possibilities than ever before. For instance, this year saw the first-ever Beauty Tech Summit at CES.

Ahead, check out our picks for what we think will define tech in 2016. Don't be surprised if you find yourself a few months from now thinking about buying a smart fridge or high-tech thermometer.

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Everyday items are getting smarter

Trend picking up at CES? 

Turning common products into smart gadgets. Take the oombrella, for example. The smart umbrella lets you know when it's going to rain and reminds you not to leave it behind. It might not be the most necessary thing in the world, but it's pretty impressive.

The “Oombrella” Is Not Your Ordinary Umbrella CNBC

Virtual reality is becoming more accessible.

Whether you're really into virtual reality or not, you can't deny it's going to become part of our lives. While Oculus Rift certainly has most of the world talking, other virtual reality products are making their way to the everyday person. For example, popular smartphone case company Speck announced its own line of Pocket VR, complete with a phone case. The gadget lets you easily turn your smartphone into a way to use virtual reality without hurting your wallet.

Here is a video  - Pocket VR - Portable Virtual Reality Viewer by Speck

Practical beauty gadgets are hitting the market.

Beauty finally has a place in tech, although it still had a smaller presence at CES than other trends. Companies like FOREO are leading the way in connecting the two industries with its IRIS Illuminating Eye Massager. The gadget is tiny enough to carry anywhere and works to massage your eye area.

    

   Here is a video FOREO IRIS | feelunique.com

                      

Clothes are doubling as fitness trackers.

These days, trackers aren't just bracelets or watches or even necklaces. At CES, we saw wearables that are actually clothes, like these Lumo Run shorts and capris. They feature a tracker embedded in the lining of the shorts that acts as a coach after collecting your running data.

       
Here is a video-Lumo Run - Smart Running Shorts