Posted 1-15-20
I will give some quick tech/worldview opinions of what I witnessed throughout the next several days, but today I just wanted to set the stage.
First some impressive numbers from 2019 (2020 hasn’t been released yet, but was bigger in all areas according to most media accounts:
- More than 4,400 exhibiting companies and exhibit space of more than 2.9 million net square feet, CES 2019 attracted 307 of the 2018 Fortune Global 500 companies.
- More than 175,000 industry professionals, including more than 61,000 from outside the U.S., convened in Las Vegas to drive the ever-evolving global technology industry forward.
- Over 1/3 of the attendees were NOT from the United States. The love for and desire to make a buck from technology, in all of its forms, is a worldwide phenomenon and was the driving force of the show.
Domestic | International | Total | |
Industry Attendees | 65,728 | 35,055 | 100,783 |
Exhibitor Personnel | 44,476 | 23,588 | 68,064 |
Media | 3,778 | 2,587 | 6,365 |
TOTAL ATTENDANCE | 113,982 | 61,230 | 175,212 |
It was quite a show. Lots of folks everywhere collectively speaking 1,000,000 different languages. It was a fascinating and quite cool experience.
Trends I noticed, in no particular order:
In general:
- Lots of robotic and/or automation items
- Lots of environmental emphasis
- Customer service (or the lack thereof) sometimes made a bigger difference than the product itself when generating a crowd.
- Wireless power seemed popular. We are charging things everywhere…might as well have our items charge with no effort. Thank you N. Tesla.
- TVs are so shockingly clear and bright that it leaves nothing to the imagination.
- Entertainment in technology drives the industry. Health comes in a close second.
- Sex sells, whether with a spokesperson/model or the technology itself (sex-oriented technology). As you have undoubtedly read, the show has taken a lot of heat the last two years in that realm and they were “more open” this year. That niche industry tried hard to change the public’s image of their products from a private preference to a socially-approved choice.
- Affinity marketing was popular. Many booths promoted their social consciousness and/or causes as a reason to consider them. This, in my book, is a hat-tip to the youngest categories of tech shoppers who demand such.
In senior tech:
- Social isolationism is widely recognized as a huge problem and many vendors are trying to use technology to assist in that area. The two most common ways are through Internet-of-Things items that you can talk to (often Alexa/Hey Google/Siri-enabled) and through a more direct approach…personal support robots. While these robots weren’t “widespread”, as such, there were several to be seen. Some were robotic, some looked like animals and others were just odd. regardless, we were created to communicate and when seniors are alone they do poorly. I can only imagine CES 2030 or 2040 how this arena will have changed!
- Some attention was made to simplify technology in many areas although the best of the best is typically more geared toward the tech-savvy. The buying power of seniors, though, at least makes the vendors consider usability as a production and marketing factor.
- I spent a good part of the day one day watching a AARP-sponsored best of the best in senior tech competition. I, with the crowd, voted on our favorite tech after hearing their presentations. Three that stood out to me were: 1. A scale that measured a senior’s weight and other vitals and their center of gravity and offered up a predictive analysis of how likely it would be that the senior was a fall risk. This product won the competition. 2. A device that hooks below your belly button and another that hooks to your lower back that uses a sonar to determine how full your bladder/colon are and communicates that data to a phone or computer. Originally to help with a senior’s incontinence, it has also gained traction in nursing homes to aid in care. 3. The Smarty Pans smart skillet. It gives nutritional info as you cook and even helps you with the cooking itself. This was my personal favorite.
Joe Montana was the guest host of this event and was charming as always.
The last piece of the CES puzzle, from an introduction standpoint and for our subject was wearables. My tech partner and I searched the place over for wearable technology that would do a couple things: monitor vitals (BP, pulse, even blood sugar all while being non-invasive) and would track the person’s whereabouts using GPS. There were lots of options that did one or the other well, but not many that excelled in both. Some did the measuring well, but relied on Bluetooth or wifi as the tool to tract the device while others used cell/GPS service (much better) but had fewer measuring options or saddled you with an extreme monthly monitoring fee. I have a duffel bag full of materials that I am still wading through in this realm and I could have missed something. OR, what I may have to consider is a two device option? Mom is beyond the need as she is cared for and is no longer a flight risk, but millions who suffer could benefit from such. More to come as I get through my pile!
What a show! I am still tired several days removed from the event, but I am full of new zeal to leverage tech in a way that helps our population. I will review products as I get time here at the cornbread table.
Update on mom: She was tired yesterday but still doing well. Thankful for the good times while we have them. 🙂 Just like I wonder what next year’s CES will hold, I wonder how mom will progress. We need to find a cure, and soon, folks!
#EndALZ