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If there’s one central theme that tech companies want to talk about, it’s disruption.
The internet has disrupted newspapers, social media has disrupted long distance calls, computers have disrupted typewriters, smartphones have disrupted computers, and so on. The goal is always to be the company that has to make the next big disruption in the hope of changing the world (and getting ahead of the competition). But after a year like 2020, even the largest electronics companies in the world had to take a step back.
CES 2021: The 20 Best Things We Saw at the Consumer Electronics Show
The consumer electronics show (abbreviated to CES) that took place this past week is virtual for the first time in its 53-year history. Last year, 189,000 people – including us – descended on a massive conference hall in Las Vegas. This year, companies presented live or pre-recorded videos about Microsoft Teams. For once, the world has disrupted the technological world.
To their credit, each company began their presentation with the recognition that Covid-19 was a global problem that affected the lives of everyone on the planet. They acknowledged that we all needed to change our plans, and offered sympathy to those who suffered the most.
Then they talk about their upcoming appliances, which are mostly meant to be enjoyed indoors. This is best summed up by Sebastian Seung, President and CEO of Samsung Research, who started the company’s press conference by saying: “our world looks different and you have faced a new reality, one where you house, among other things, has taken on greater significance. ”
LG
CES has always been a program on the latest innovations in TV technology, and this year was no exception. The focus this time was on 8K sets, which have twice the amount of pixels as a 4K TV. The world is not ready for 8K yet – the screens are here, the content is not – but it can not be denied.
The most exciting TV announcements come from TCL and LG, the two companies that are trying hardest to make the best sets possible. TCL has announced its first 8K TV, which will use a technology called AiPQ to sharpen (sharpen, enhance) 4K or HD content to look better. LG’s Evo G1 has an OLED screen (organic light emitting diode) that delivers a more detailed image than a traditional LED panel. LG has also designed a dedicated game mode to reduce latency and uses a custom processor to optimize the video quality of everything you watch or play.
Both companies have acknowledged that screens are getting bigger and bigger and are pushing the boundaries of TV size. LG’s Evo is in an 83-inch configuration and TCL’s XL TV series has an 85-inch set. “Larger screens mean a more effective, immersive and engaging experience,” said Aaron Dew, director of product development at TCL North America. Dew also said that screen size is the second most important factor that people consider before getting a TV. The first is price.
Sony
Sony has innovated on the speaker side by unveiling the SRS-RA5000, a single speaker that can simulate surround sound thanks to a custom technology called ‘Reality 360 Audio’. The speaker follows this tendency to make your home better, without taking up much space, which most of us do not have. It also shifted the boundaries of the design by bending the speaker to ensure the drivers were pointing in different directions for more captivating sound.
Impressive and exciting as these articles are, it represents an evolution of existing technology rather than something completely original. CES is an event where tech companies have come up with big, daring ideas, and I could not help but feel that the announcements were a little safer this year. On the upside, it’s likely that you’ll make this equipment available on the market this year.
The most striking ‘new’ technology announced at the show was, oddly enough, a technology-forward face mask. Face masks have become a big part of our lives by 2020 and technology companies want to disrupt them.
Razer
Razer, whose gaming laptops will get good reviews in 2021, has announced ‘Project Hazel’, which it calls ‘the smartest face mask in the world’. The N95 has some clever pods that filter at least 95% airborne particles. They are also designed to have a high fluid resistance (also think of moisture from sneezing).
It even has a built-in microphone to amplify your voice so you can easily understand it, even when it’s on. Although ‘Project Hazel’ feels like a functional, futuristic piece of technology, it’s hard to forget why we need it in the first place. Charlie Bolton, director of design at Razer Inc., said: “By designing this mask safely, socially, sustainably, comfortably and personally, Project Hazel is our answer to what could be the smartest mask in the world.”
Another underlying theme of CES 2021 was established companies entering entirely new fields. GE, which released smart accessories last year, has renamed the division to Cync and its first smart, paired HD camera. Samsung, known for its TVs and soundbars, unveiled the smartest robot vacuum cleaner we’ve ever seen, with a built-in camera and sensors that AI can use to not only detect objects, but also determine what they are and how to continue. Again, both of these devices are aimed at making your time at home easier.
Roland
The third trend we saw at CES 2021 was the idea of creating something at home. It’s featured Roland’s Verselab MV-1, an all-in-one home studio that lets you record songs and instruments, add loop beats, sequence sounds and effects. For a solo musician, the MV-1 is a big step forward, replacing several pieces of disposable equipment with a multitasker.
Lenovo’s 5G compatible IdeaPad laptop is another standout. With its internal cellular radio, you can work from anywhere, opening the doors for photographers to take, edit and upload photos from more remote locations. Musicians can stream live performances, even if the venue (or even their home) has bubbling WiFi, and students in more rural areas are more likely to stay connected with classmates and professors.
At best, technological improvements make our lives a little easier, we work a little faster and our opportunities a little bigger. While 2021 is still going to be a strange year, CES offers a better vision ahead.