From hoverboards to VR headsets, these are the top 8 tech innovations of 2016!

#1

The self-balancing scooter, or the Hoverboard if you may, maintained quite the hype in all of 2015 and 2016. It doesn't ‘hover' but it's a pretty neat gadget for the lazy soul in all of us. Once the user hops on to the hoverboard, it uses multiple gyroscopes to balance the person, creating an illusion of ‘hovering' over the surface.

#2

LG is one of the niche market players in the consumer durables industry, which represents the height of display technology with its OLED TV. The 4K OLED TV is based on the WRGB technology, which has an incredible 33 million color sub-pixels to produce lifelike colors and decent contrast ratio. The LG's Art Slim technology has led to the slimmest TV available on earth. Further, users can experience cinema in 3D along with blur-free clarity even during the fastest action scenes.

#3

OPPO's latest VOOC Quick Charging technology is the thing everyone's talking about when it comes to connectivity tech. With 4x faster charging speed than conventional chargers, the VOOC flash charging system will have your phone ready to go when you are on your way out the door. Compared with the conventional high current protection, VOOC uses 5 levels of protective layering from the adaptor to the port and interior of the phone. VOOC has replaced the voltage reducing circuit with an MCU, effectively preventing your mobile phone from overheating while charging.

#4

Speaking about charging your phone, LG has also entered the speed competition with their latest wireless charging tech that they claim can half charge a fully dead smartphone, within 30 minutes. Another great thing is if LG will be able to put this tech in action, it won't matter which one your device uses, whether it's Qi or Powermat or whatever else is available now. It will be compatible with whatever you offer it. But as to how they will be able to do that is still probably in the planning and beta testing process.

#5

We have already seen the Oculus Rift with its mind-boggling virtual fields of reality. Then came the Microsoft HoloLens. This is a completely different and unique take on the augmented reality experience and NASA is already using the HoloLens to mimic Mars' terrains in their labs.

#6

Most of the hype surrounding virtual reality has been rightly centered on premium headsets, such as Facebook's Oculus Rift and HTC Vive (both of which will leave a big hole in your wallet). But Google Cardboard is revolutionary in its own right. Since its debut, the viewer-which can be built from scratch using online instructions and relies on your smartphone for visuals-has emerged as a playground for virtual reality, urging brands and consumers alike for one of the world's most anticipated technologies. There are Cardboard apps that let people drive cars, attend concerts and even play completely immersive video games.

#7

Unveiled in September 2015, the Tesla Motors range of electric self-driving cars completely changed the automobile scene once and for all. The Tesla Model S is the world's first luxury electric SUV that can go 250 miles on a charge and haul seven passengers. It features futuristic back doors that open like the wings of a bird. And the Model X is a dream to drive: it can hit 60 mph-from zero-in 3.2 seconds, and its battery pack gives it a low center of gravity, enabling sports-car-like handling.

#8

Smartwatches, which connect to your smartphone to display notifications from apps running on it, are likely to be in the forefront to begin with. Research company Futuresource recorded that smartwatch sales almost doubled, and there had been a 50% rise in intention to get a fitness tracker between May and October 2014; the biggest change was among iPhone owners, possibly once they saw Apple unveil its watch in September. Another analysis company, Juniper Research, believes it will take four years before smartwatches overtake fitness trackers in sales volume, simply because trackers are cheaper.