Imagine walking into a room that holds 170,000 attendees, all exploring or showcasing the latest in technology. You walk down one row and see robotics and self-driving cars. The next row is full of high-level software created to simplify the life of a developer.

The mind reels at the possibilities.

It’s quite a scene to behold and it can only be found at the annual CES Tradeshow. This year, there was just as much to see and do and the exhibitors didn’t disappoint.

For those of you who couldn’t make it to CES last week, we were your eyes and ears on the ground, scoping out the latest and greatest in consumer electronics and technology. We were interested to see what new gadgets will impact the life of a tech professional. 

We came back with an armful of goodies and a head full of impressions. Here are the products we forecast making big waves in 2017:

Who: Nitize
What: GearTie – the organizer you didn’t even know you needed.

Say goodbye to tangled and unruly desk cords or hard-to-find tech items lying loose in a drawer. The GearTie is more than your average reusable rubber twist tie and can be used for everything from organizing your cords to sealing bags. With a strong wire inside that helps the tie keep its shape, it’s guaranteed to last. Sizes range from a small 3” to the 64” “mega” tie, made for heavy-duty jobs like holding together PVC pipes or wooden boards. Nitize has even created glow-in-the-dark collars and necklaces for pets and children for nighttime walks and explorations.

Who: Jibo
What: A Friendly Smart Assistant – for those times when Siri just doesn’t cut it.

Ever get tired of Siri or Alexa acting emotionless as they answer your questions? With Jibo, you experience a smart assistant with personality. The robot gets to know you and its surroundings and provides thoughtful responses instead of simple, fact-based replies. Created by Cynthia Breazeal, an MIT grad and 2014 entrepreneur featured in Fortune Magazine’s Most Promising Women Entrepreneurs, Jibo looks forward to getting to know you with its release later this year. (For those interested in getting your hands on it first, sign up for the Waitlist today.)

Who: United States Postal Service
What: Precious Cargo Box – built tough to handle all your electronic shipment needs.

Believe it or not, the USPS has some innovative new products coming out in the tech field. They’ve designed new boxes with polyurethane inserts to protect electronics during the shipping process. Designed to house smart phones, tablets, or laptops, the three size variations protect your beloved technology from being damaged en route to their destination. They’ve also debuted innovative ideas for simplifying shipping processes with voice commands, showing they’re aware of the changing business landscape and ready to adapt to meet consumer shipping needs.

Who: Reticare
What: Screen overlay that blocks high energy light, protecting your eyes for longer screen time.

Do you sit in front of the computer all day and then go home and watch TV or play on your phone? You may not realize it, but this constant visual interaction with screens has negative repercussions for your health. Reticare is a patented, protective film built to block high energy light so your retinas do not deteriorate with prolonged screen exposure.

Who: Ultra-X Inc
What: The latest in diagnostic technology from the company who knows diagnostics.

Ultra-X has been around for 25 years and they know what it takes to create cross-platform diagnostic tools. At CES, they exhibited their knowledge and expertise for staying on top of industry changes and providing accuracy and flexibility in their offerings.

Who: J5create
What: The Boomerang Station, a universal USB docking station that allows you to Connect External Devices instantly and seamlessly.

For those of you who work with laptops containing limited USB portals, this docking station is the answer to all your connectivity problems. The plug-and-play feature of this station transfers your laptop into a desktop by adding connection portals, letting you connect external devices seamlessly so you no longer waste time trying to figure out which devices to connect. 

Who: Razer Gaming Gear
What:  Project Valerie – a triple Monitor Gaming Laptop prototype
Project Ariana – a projector that uses Razer Chroma Technology to make the light experience more immersive. 

Are you looking for a way to update your gaming experience? Look no further than Razer Gaming Gear’s latest prototypes. From a Triple Monitor Gaming laptop to a projector sophisticated enough to include your entire visual landscape in the experience, their gaming technology is top notch. Their products were so sought after that, sadly, someone stole the prototypes from the show floor at the end of the weekend.

Who: DJI
What: The Mavic – one of the smallest, lightest, and easiest to store and transport drones on the market. 

Known for cutting-edge drone technology, DJI had a huge presence at CES and didn’t disappoint with their latest drone development. The Mavic, small enough to hold in our hands, is touted as a new hot-ticket item in drone technology, due to its ease of transport and its ability to fold up into a smaller piece. So whether you’re wanting to relive your youth with a more expensive version of a remote-controlled helicopter, or you’re into taking aerial photography, this drone is definitely one to try.