Gadget designers rarely get to think outside the box. Sure, they may get to give things rounded edges or the like, just to spice things up. But it’s the square that fundamentally shapes our technology–from TVs to Kindles.
That is all about to change. In the near future, technology will take on the same twists and curves as our own bodies. Fast Company saw several products from CES as harbingers of the trend, including:

Samsung’s flexible screen/display points the way towards scroll-shaped cellphones–just unroll the screen.
Apple’s new 17-inch MacBook Pro has a lithium battery specially shaped to fit the machine’s innards,  significantly [...]

As we look back on the CES conference of 2009, it is clear that there have been some notable and exciting announcements.  The unveiling of the new Palm Pre, the Polaroid PoGo and the implementation of wireless charging just to name a few.  Wired Senior-Editor Dylan Tweney expects to see more electronic manufacturers pitch more affordable gadgets as the economic situation tightens wallets and even noticed that this years CES was more subdued than previous years.  Check out his full report below:

Bug Labs, a group of innovative engineers, unveiled their new additions to their Bug product at CES that enables users to create a custom device based on fully programmable “bugmodules” that attach to the “bugbase.”  The unusual product gives knowledgeable consumers a chance to build a device that fits their needs, rather than relying on the marketplace to provide something for them or become burdened by a string of different products. 
The first bugmodules were released in 2007 and included a touch-sensitive LCD screen, a motion and accelerometer sensor, a GPS unit and a digital camera with video capabilities.  At [...]

The Polaroid Corporation, best known for their instant film camera from the 1970s which they recently discontinued, has updated their product for the digital age.  The new PoGo, unveiled at the recent CES conference, is a new digital camera that will print a full color 2 x 3 inch photograph in under 60 seconds directly from the camera body.  We wrote about this when it was announced, but it looks like Polaroid is finally putting it into production.
This new iteration of instant prints uses ZINK ink-free printing technology and utilizes a special paper embedded with heat activated dye crystals.  While [...]

CES, the largest consumer technology trade show, has served as a showcase for hundreds of new devices, many of which heavily rely on wireless and inter-connectivity.  At thee show’s opening keynote, Howard Stringer, CEO of Sony, announced that by 2011 ninty percent of Sony products will be able to connect to the internet and each other.  The trend presented by dozens of manufactures at CES has been to introduce devices that reflect the growing reliance on wireless technologies, social networking and constant network accessibility.
Nokia is making a big push at this year’s show to present technology to collaborate and communicate [...]

It doesn’t look like much, but the iPod in the photo above is being charged. Engadget reports from the 2009 Consumer Electronics show that wireless power in full operational effect and ready to be used. They show off some interesting examples of wireless power from Fulton Innovation – like a DVR box that fully charges its remote with a mere 10 seconds of contact. Also from Fulton is a innocent looking wooden drawer with tiny pinpoint charging areas laid out over it’s surface. Gadgets can be simply placed on top of the points, and will start powering up.
Engadget: “Fulton Innovation [...]