CES 2021 goes virtual: 5G, AR among trends on day one
The annual consumer electronics convention CES kicked off yesterday, albeit in a fully virtual capacity due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
As a result, exhibiting companies are using video conferencing to stream their presentations.
Connectivity was one of the trends guiding the technologies this year, with much being made of the possibilities of 5G. Verizon’s Chairman and CEO Hans Vestberg said: “Our world has experienced significant change since we last took the keynote stage at CES in 2019. There’s been an extreme acceleration in the digital revolution, and at the heart of that transformation is 5G technology. The future of work, learning, telehealth, retail and streaming are very much our current realities. And we are just getting started. 5G isn’t just another tech innovation, it’s the platform that makes other innovations possible.”
Another trend was augmented reality, as with Lenovo’s announcement of ThinkReality A3 Smart Glasses for tasks including immersive training. In a press release, Jon Pershke, Lenovo Vice President of Strategy and Emerging Business, Intelligent Device Group, said: ““The A3 is a next generation augmented reality solution – light, powerful and versatile. The smart glasses are part of a comprehensive integrated digital solution from Lenovo that includes the advanced AR device, ThinkReality software, and Motorola mobile phones. Whether working in virtual spaces or supporting remote assistance, the ThinkReality A3 enhances workers’ abilities to do more wherever they are.”
Intel used the occasion to reveal its next generation of processors, with 50 products in four families. “Only Intel has the breadth of products spanning multiple architectures; the large, open ecosystem; sheer scale of manufacturing footprint; and deep technical expertise customers need to unlock opportunities in this era of distributed intelligence,” said Intel Executive Vice President Gregory Bryant.
The event is continuing for the next three days, with announcements from the likes of General Motors, Microsoft, AMD, and Nvidia still to come.
