It almost seemed like Christmas all over again last week in Las Vegas, where businesses introduced gee-whiz products that could include gifts of the future – as well as home appliances and vehicle accessories that enrich our families' lives. The setting was a three-day Consumer Electronics Show with nearly 3,700 exhibitors and more than 170,000 attendees -- the world's largest industry event of its type.

Attention-getting products include wireless earbuds and wireless charging, a technology that broadcasts waves of power through your house to charge your stuff when you enter. Participants also saw "smart drones" that track where you are to shoot better videos. For instance, a drone carrying a GoPro camera can track you zipping down a hill on a snowboard or skis. There also were lots of headsets for virtual reality applications as that technology gains wider appeal for education, gaming and entertainment. A leading brand, Occulus VR, revealed that its Rift model will cost $599 – much more than the firm indicated earlier.

A company named Gemio unveiled teen friendship bracelets that can be paired with an app. The bands, which star at $100, have 20 colored LEDs that backlight gem sets that can be switched out to match the wearer's mood. Users can pair their bracelet with friends, then send light messages or text messages via an app. Users can assign personalized light patterns to each friend, which light up when they’re nearby. "Stealth mode" offers the ability to interact via vibrations. The band can also be programmed to trigger specific light patterns based on gestures, such as a wave, high-five or a flick of the wrist. A built-in mic lets lights flash to the beat of nearby music.

New gadgets for fitness buffs and athletes include "connected footwear" – $350 sneakers coming this fall from a firm called Digitsole. Its Smartshoe has a heating system, motion tracking, wireless charging, shock absorption measurement and even automatic lacing. It's connected to a user's phone via Bluetooth and controlled via an app. Similarly, a European startup hopes to market a sports accessory called Run Rockets -- sensors that attach to shoes or skis to analyze running or skiing form in real time via a heads-up display in what looks like a pair of sunglasses.

Industry observer says: "Cool is great, but that's only for early adopters. None of these companies can survive unless they sell their product en masse [widely]. . . . For most, they've really got to show a lot of value." – Brian Blau, technology investments analyst

Blogger says: "There may be no better place to reflect on our relationship with tech." – Richard Nivea, writer for CNET News

Business writer says: "Although some of the products at this year's CES may seem outlandish, many are part of a steady march towards connecting everything in our daily lives." – Ciara O’Brien of The Irish Times newspaper