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Sensational! The CES Trade Show in Las Vegas

If I was a guest at the CES trade show in Las Vegas last week, I know I’d be wandering the aisles and hallways, boggle eyed, like a deer in the headlights.

Unlike fellow blogger, Lois Whitman, who has attended every one of the CES conferences through its 50 years of existence, and has the presence of mind to blog about it brilliantly (DigiDame), I would be overwhelmed. Maybe I’d even skip the whole thing and go to the beach (kidding—it’s a 5 hour drive!).

CES, is an international electronics show, which showcases what’s new, what is coming up, and what some of the world’s noteworthy scientists are thinking. Here is a description from its website:

“The International Consumer Electronics Show (International CES) showcases more than 3,800 exhibiting companies, including manufacturers, developers and suppliers of consumer technology hardware, content, technology delivery systems and more; a conference program with more than 300 conference sessions and more than 165K attendees from 150 countries.”

This is an impressive show—it attracts the world’s business leaders and creative thinkers and presents new and relevant ideas to fascinated attendees. The keynote speaker, for example, was Jen-Hsun Huang, founder and CEO of NVIDA, the company that pioneered the GPU, which has now evolved into a computer brain giving humans the power to simulate virtual worlds.

Nearly every industry on the planet was represented in its more than 2.47 million net square feet of exhibit space: automobile manufacturers, healthcare companies, software and hardware producers, along with new and innovative categories like 3D printing and self-driving cars.

Enhancing you, your home, and connecting the world

“The latest wave of products and technologies,” they claim, “touches every major global industry that is connecting the world, enhancing lives and solving global challenges.”

Here is a small sample, as seen on their updated website:

-Echo: A futuristic and upgraded voice-activated smart home speaker from Amazon
-A whole new fleet of Korean made robohelpers for around the home, including one that will mow your lawn.
-An LG Hub Robot which plays music and alerts users to weather conditions on command, and also connects a host of new LG smart appliances like the oven, robot vacuum cleaner and washing machines. And here’s the kicker: It has the potential of learning the patterns of users, and adjusting their appliances accordingly.

And there’s always at least one product that makes you think, “What will they dream of next?”
-Lego Boost is a set of motors and programmable bricks that can work with the Lego kits your child already has, turning them into motorized or motion-sensitive toys. It can also record voice effects, allowing you to make your robot Lego-cat speak. Okay, now I’ve said it, “Wow!”

I don’t have the space to list the hundreds of products, but you can go here to see some of them.

Although I wasn’t there, a quick flip through their updated post conference website, gave me a general idea about the world class thinkers who presented, and the innovative products featured.

No room for a spoilsport here!

But throughout my virtual journey, at the risk of being a killjoy, my inner skeptic kept popping up, asking uncomfortable questions as I toured:

Is it needed?
Is it wanted?
Who thought this up?
Will it actually be used and valued, or will it end up in the landfill?

Which leads me to the thought I had in the first place: Who created this? And Why?

In our business driven society, people always look for a potential need, a market to exploit so that they can make money. Those who think up the actual products may be free lance inventors or employees of companies like Apple or Microsoft. They are driven by the human desire to create, and they dream of money and fame. In a sense, they are like the people who turn up at Dragon’s Den in Canada, or Shark Tank in the US, with inventive and sometimes crazy ideas, not willing to be dissuaded by the low rate of success.

Are all of these gadgets needed or even wanted by consumers? Are we buying into technology for technology’s sake? It seems to me we are— the constant stream of new products seems to be feeding into one of the biggest addictions of our time, giving consumers a regular fix of tech products to feel alive and ‘with it’.

Responding to addictions is a common marketing ploy, made easier than ever by the rapid exchange of ideas over the internet, and the relatively cheap cost of manufacture and marketing.

And one last thought

But there is more to this than the allure of ‘new stuff’. There is a feeling that we are at the start of something great and cutting-edge here—we are witnessing the beginning of a revolution. And if owning a smart watch, or the latest smart phone gives us a place in the starting line, well who wouldn’t want to be a part of that?

26 thoughts on “Sensational! The CES Trade Show in Las Vegas”

  1. Interesting post with a set of provocative questions. Made me wonder about the use of technology in my life. I’ve never attended a trade show like CES, but it sounds kind of like “Back to the Future.”

    1. Still the Lucky Few

      I think there will me many more shows similar to this one, given the rapid development of the technological revolution!

  2. I bought into it! My Fitbit is in the mail and a grater that turns zucchini into noodles is it the pantry. Why not? It’s fun.

    1. Still the Lucky Few

      I have considered buying a Fitbit, but the grater—not so much. Unless a robot, who can cook me an amazing pasta dish, comes with it!

    1. Still the Lucky Few

      I’m impressed! Soon, as scientists have predicted long ago, we will not longer need keys to our homes. Actually, I think that innovation is already in place!

  3. Although I worked as a technical writer for a technology company and presently cover such issues as a freelance writer, I have to say these new devices are not only making our species dumber and lazier, but in some ways invade our privacy and have the potential to serve as computer security threats.

  4. I’ve always wanted to attend CES, but haven’t yet made it there. We have a few gadgets (iPhones, iPads, FitBit, etc.) but I’m wary of things like Echo and whatever the Google one is called… it just feels too intrusive. Call me paranoid, but they have the ability to listen and record conversations and I’m not sure that’s a good thing.

    1. Still the Lucky Few

      I think the Google one is Cortana (Maybe that is Microsoft). Yes they CAN record your conversations, which goes into the cloud, and can be retrieved by experts if you should ever become a spy! (lol) They are intrusive!

  5. so amazing – the future is interesting – but also scary, not in a bad kind of way, though.

    I sit here this arvo, and I hear what sounds like some sort of digger or grader (can’t see it) but it probably doing some finishing stages at a couple of very large houses being built not far away. I can just about imagine in the future some sort of air-controlled machine that makes little noise but efficiently without a operator sorts out the grounds…

    1. Still the Lucky Few

      Yep—a machine (robot) driven system that just goes about its business, noiselessly, with incredible speed…not all in the future anymore!

  6. Addiction is the right word. There is that sense of being on the cusp of “the latest thing” and wanting to keep up with technology. I, too, have wondered the same questions you ask here and guess the many answers probably each apply to some segment of our population — just as some group seems to respond to the many cable and now internet airing programs. Something for everybody, and then some. Privacy is a major issue of concern to me and many of these devices are so intrusive, often in ways we don’t always know about — only learn later — as I think of the simpler setups now and all the sneaky tracking that’s done.

    1. Still the Lucky Few

      This addiction turned up a few years ago, when young people used to line up to buy the latest Apple phone—who knew that it was a part of something more than the latest fad? No one seems to be addressing the problem of privacy and security (except for older people). Young people don’t seem to care. Maybe they know more than we do!

  7. I’m sorry I can’t just “like” your posts. I often enjoy them without wanting to comment, and especially without wanting to write out my name and email address, as I already follow you. I realise this is how you want it to be. But I am here and I do appreciate your lively blog.

    1. Still the Lucky Few

      Thank you for following me, Rachel! The only reason you would be asked to type in your email address is if you wish to receive this blog in your ‘inbox’ each Sunday morning. Your name is not requested there. Not sure I understand your comment, but hopefully you can follow me, and comment. Hope you continue to do so!

  8. I had to write about CES for one of my clients (even though I wasn’t there–try THAT challenge!). I thought the pants that vibrated to tell you which way to turn were kinda stupid! But I love the idea of a shirt that will monitor your vitals. Wearables are definitely the future of healthcare.

    1. Still the Lucky Few

      Wearables are the diagnostic tool of the future! I missed it in my research, but so glad that you brought it to our attention. The pants don’t make any sense at all! Thanks, Stephanie.

  9. Yeah, Another Blogger

    Hi.
    Technology marches on. It always has. Most likely, some of the products/ideas you mentioned in your article will become commonplace fairly soon. Like you say, humans have a need to create and to make $$$$.

    1. Still the Lucky Few

      Both motivations are probably present in equal parts. Although as we become older, the opportunities for making money seem to diminish!

  10. I have been wondering when someone would come up with that lawnmower! Tempted to get in there and look at the other new gadgets but I am already suffering from CID – Chronic Internet Distraction . . .

  11. Your interesting post made me feel old and tired, Diane. I’m not sure I have the energy or the interest to learn to use all this new stuff, and, worse, keep it functional and updated. Perhaps my husband and I should move closer to our grandchildren; they’ll help.

  12. The world is moving fast, and I feel compelled to report on some of the changes that are happening. It disturbs me that this news is upsetting to my dear online friends like you. I’m posting one more article on online universities tomorrow, and maybe one on 3D printing next week. Then I’ll take a break and tackle another topic. Thank you for hanging in there!

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