For the first time ever, the world’s biggest consumer technology show, CES 2021, went virtual. There were no flights to Vegas, no taxi shortages, no press conference showdowns, no unwanted foot blisters or hangovers. There were, however, still some very big takeaways that should be on every tech professional’s radar as we continue into the year ahead.
Pandemic Tech
We’d be remiss to not first talk about the most obvious trend: pandemic tech. Companies are on a new mission: to do good by promising to fight the virus as best they can muster. LG promised to kill up to 99.9% of bacteria through its new InstaView Refrigerator, which uses UVnano technology to sanitize drinking water. Remember when the cell phone was grosser than a public toilet seat? No more! CES 2021 saw a number of new UV sanitizers debut, fighting for market share through promises to (s)wipe our phones clean once and for all.
Smart Home Tech
Have we reached the point yet where we can start referring to the smart home as… just a regular home? Because if CES 2021 showed us anything, it’s that everything in the home can now be connected and that the market is absolutely booming during a time when many of us rarely leave it. Samsung (yes, you read that right) announced the JetBot 90 AI+, a robot vacuum that not only cleans the house but can serve as a roving security camera. The company also announced AI-powered washers and dryers for those interested in cleaning their clothes more effectively. Oh yeah, and there are now AI smart cribs ready to bounce your sleeping baby back into a gentle slumber. Sound like cool updates? Great! It gets weirder. Toto, perhaps capitalizing off today’s pandemic-ensued health worries, released the concept for a new Wellness Toilet. Apparently, the toilet will be able to examine our stool to determine whether or not we’re healthy. Sound…invasive? Don’t worry; it likely won’t hit the market for another few years.
Entertainment Tech
Similar to years past, CES 2021 saw an impressive range of new 4K and 8K TVs hit the market from the likes of Samsung, Sony, and LG. Streaming executives also met for a dynamic panel on January 12 that touched on everything from the 2020 boom in streaming services for today’s savvier consumers. The free, ad-supported streaming TV model seems to be gaining rapid momentum thanks in part to ongoing stay-at-home orders. Amazon is even enhancing its Alexa technology to encourage a more personalized TV viewing experience for at-home consumers.
Transportation & Mobility Tech
Is the era of ridesharing over? Not quite, but with pandemic-related concerns on carpooling, this year’s show saw more of a focus on personal and private forms of transportation. GM unveiled a personal, electrical Vertical Take-Off / Landing (VTOL) Cadillac. Sound familiar to a flying car? It is a battery-powered, one-person aircraft. GM also showcased its Halo self-driving car concept, designed to personalize luxury car transport and equipped with biometric sensors capable of adjusting to the lighting, temperature, humidity, and scent of an individual’s liking.
5G
From the cool to the wacky, all the latest gadgets and gizmos released at CES 2021 will need a powerful network -- 5G to be more specific. 5G was everywhere at this year’s show and the subject of the show’s first keynote. Hans Vestberg, Verizon’s CEO, spoke about where we’re at with 5G now, where we’re headed, and just how COVID-19 has accelerated efforts. Those interested can check out the keynote on Verizon’s site here.
And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. With another CES trade show in the books, it will be interesting to watch these technology trends evolve in the coming months!
- Mackenzie Gavel, Account Supervisor