2020 may be in the rearview mirror, but we are still a ways away from getting back to normal when it comes to big industry events and trade shows. One of the first places we’ll notice this change in early 2021 is at the consumer electronics industry flagship event - CES. Because CES takes place in January each year, it was unaffected by the eventual shutdowns during 2020 and that event carried on with it’s usual massive in-person event (171,000 people attended in 2020).
But, in 2021, the event has gone virtual for the first time. With this entirely revamped event, what can we expect from the show?
Personal Health and Fitness Tech
You can expect to see even more home fitness equipment, as people continue working and working out at home as the country slowly comes out of the pandemic as the year progresses. But beyond the Peloton, Mirror, Fight Camp, and other fitness tech gadgets, keep an eye out for more health-focused products, as well. Think water purifiers, UV lights for disinfecting surfaces and items, and even more wearable health monitors. You can also expect to see more hands-free devices that respond to gestures or voice commands, rather than touch - like faucets or even larger appliances that will integrate with virtual assistants like Alexa or Google Assistant.
TVs and More Tvs
Television tech has been a staple at CES for many years, as manufacturers showcase the latest upgrades to TV technology. Because they lend themselves so well to exhibits, TVs have probably been the most prominent products at a typical CES, filling huge wall displays or ending up looking like works of art, with wildly curving screens. Even with this year’s virtual event, TVs will still be a big part of the show. You’ll still see new technology around MicroLED screens, 8K, OLED, and even transparent OLED. However, it’s challenging to amaze a crowd with the crystal clarity of a new 8K screen, when they are watching the show at home on a 4K device. So, to some extent, we’ll have to take their word for some of the technical improvements.
Robots!
Every year, robots at CES perform more fascinating tasks as the industry continues to evolve. Robot tech will span a huge number of industries across health, manufacturing, and of course, entertainment. We’ll see more companion robots (perhaps more useful than ever before) and plenty of AI pets.
While we’ll miss the chance to see many of these products up close and personal, we can still expect to be wowed by some amazing new technologies and gadgets at CES 2021.
