CES 2022
The Consumer Electronics Show 2022 took place in Las Vegas from January 5 to 7, 2022. CES 2022 showcased the latest innovations, in a hybrid event with digital and in-person presentations.
An abundance of innovation happened during the pandemic. There were interesting innovations and product launches from Sony, Samsung, BMW, Hyundai and Bosch. The three sectors that received the most funding over the last year were fintech, retail and health technology. CES brought together EV’s from Vietnam, autonomous cargo vehicles from Russia and energy harvesting chips from the Netherlands.
Sustainable technology has developed into a must-have, not a nice to have. Sustainability encompasses everything from EVs and carbon-friendly transportation to alternative power sources, food technology, smart cities, zero-waste gadgets, and carbon analytics. The shift has gone from thinking about organic materials to the focus on recycled materials.
Supply chain issues are still a big problem that is going to stay with us for the coming years. Companies around the world are battling supply chain shortages as a spike in demand converges with industrial production struggling to catch up.
The three keywords at CES 2022 were connectivity, engagement and the Metaverse.
Connectivity
5G is transforming connectivity where products are part of a connected ecosystem. The high latency, speed and connections capacity of 5G will help accelerate collaboration between industries. This will blur the traditional boundaries of the telecom, automotive, health, transport and energy industries by connecting them. Imagine billions of connected products gathering and sharing information in real time. Speed and network coverage will be crucial as the number of internet-connected cars with environmental sensors will accelerate in the coming years.
Engagement
Digital acceleration has changed how brands and customers connect and how sports teams and artists connect with their audiences. The community is part of the experience and the connection is more direct, interactive and emotional. Content and media have to be created constantly not just at the introducing or promoting stage of a project or product. Lifestreaming has grown in the last year and will be another channel of connecting and commerce. Discord was first built as a place for people to communicate and voice chat while playing video games but is now used also outside of the gaming niche by all kinds of professional and social communities.
Metaverse
Investments in AI continue to grow. Rules for AI applications are taking shape while AI is already at work. Autonomous cars will be on our roads but what will be the regulations for cars driven by AI? AI has the opportunity to reduce bias and boost diversity when done right from the beginning instead of being an afterthought. Prepare the workforce for the shift that AI will bring and include everyone in the ride towards AI, not just the rich or the top of the company. The teams building AI have to be more diverse, to do it right you need the right mix of people and the right data. It all comes down to data, the AI is not evil. This means a lot of data, gather data for years before going public, it has to be tested with diverse groups, listen and improve.
You can download the PDF version here
Rethinking Robots
Abstract robots are AI-driven devices that help us do simple, repetitive or dangerous tasks while being part of a digital and physical world at the same time. These machines can learn with experience and perform human-like tasks without looking human-like. 5G stretches the boundaries of what is possible. As technologies such as AI continue to grow, they will significantly impact our quality of life, supporting us seamlessly and intuitively.
Left to right Citroën Autonomous Mobility Vision, one-wheeled Plug & Drive vehicle, Ecovacs Deebot X1 Omni robotic vacuum cleaner, Hyundai Mobile Eccentric Droid stroller and moveable screen, Hyundai Mobile Eccentric Droid wheelbase bottom, Hyundai Plug & Drive Module Pod
21st Century Logistics
The future of mobility is intelligent, electric and connected. AI improves urban mobility by reducing traffic congestion and air pollution, increasing safety, and making commuting more efficient. Micro mobility solutions like bicycles, e-bikes, electric scooters, electric skateboards, shared bikes, and electric pedal-assisted (pedelec) bicycles are used for small distances and last-mile deliveries. Hyundai presented a total mobility vision, Metamobility, where city mobility and robots are connected to the metaverse and the physical world. You can watch the Hyundai Metamobility video here
Left to right Hyundai Metamobility vision, Udelv electric self-driving van, Citroën Autonomous Mobility Vision, Evogargo autonomous cargo transport, Hyundai PnD modular platform, Cake electric motorbike
EV’s
Electric vehicles have stolen the spotlight at CES. Comfort and safety are the focus but also the personal driving experience. For making technology feel human, the interiors are warm and comfortable. The car recognises you, and the inner space can be adjusted to your personal preferences, smell and sound are used to create a more intimate atmosphere. EV’s have an AI-based digital soul for the human to AI communication instead of voice control.
Left to right Sony Vision-S 02 interior, BMW iX Flow E Ink colour changing tech, Cadillac InnerSpace, VinFast Vietnam, TOGG Turkey, Sony Vision-S 02
Remote work
The technology-enabled supply chain is connected and responsive. Data and visualisations are used to create more certainty, predictability and insights. The supply chain can have a digital twin in the Metaverse where personalised and on-demand manufacturing can be tested and optimised. We can meet in the Metaverse, create products and work remote through robots that fulfil tasks in the physical world.
Left to right La Vitre digital window, Meta’s VR Workroom, Hyundai x Boston Dynamics, Digital Twins and Simulated Reality by Perspective and Dimenco, Beomni 1.0 humanoid robot, TactGlove by bHaptics
The Metaverse
The Metaverse is a space to be together, it can be what you want it to be, and you can be how you want to be. It can be a game, a store, a place to meet people or a digital representation of the real world. The Metaverse promotes creativity; the avatar can represent you or be a fantasy-like and creative expression. Web 3.0 will be not based on a username or password but based on cryptic prove that you are who you are. The Metaverse will reimagine retail in the years to come. A brand or creator can create their community and sell products, artworks or music through NFT’s, and anything can be an NFT. It is a new way to monetise art and products and reach a younger audience.
Left to right Samsung Neo QLED-TV NFT-platform, Perfect Corp AR & AI-powered try-on experiences for makeup and accessories, Tekle Holographics, Microsoft x Qualcomm metaverse, Animatico characters with AI and voice control, Samsung My House world on Zepeto
3D Vision
VR and smart glasses are on the rise, thanks partly to the promises of a metaverse-filled future. The virtual reality and augmented reality markets are expected to grow to nearly $600 billion by 2025. A new generation of VR games enables players to feel a greater sense of presence and become more immersed within their game worlds once they put on the headset and move the controllers.
Left to right Canon EOS RF5.2mm f/2.8 L Dual Fisheye Lens, TCL NXTWEAR AIR smart glasses, HTC Vive Wrist tracker, InWith Metaverse lenses, MaganeX bt Shiftall Panasonic, Sony PSVR 2
Social Gaming
Greater power, more immersion and contact with the community is what drives gaming forward. Gaming is part of today’s culture; 2.7 billion play games regularly, nearly 35% of the global population. Women make up 60% of all new gamers. The social aspect behind gaming is a primary reason to play, with 84% of gamers stating they play to connect with others of similar interests, 80% use gaming to meet new people, and 77% play games to say in touch with friends.
Left to right Nvidia 250 GeForce RTX 3050, Razer desk-PC hybrid Project Sophia, Samsung Odyssey Ark, MSI MAG B660M Mortar WiFi DDR4, Picoo screenless gaming console, Samsung Odyssey Ark
Smart Healthy Home
Technology in the home is becoming more smart, focused on entertainment, health and wellbeing and security. Consumers are open to AI-powered tasks, with the top three being shopping recommendations, cleaning the home and fitness or diet advice and coaching. How we store food, cook and even eat will undergo a significant transformation over the next decade. AI, smart technologies and robotics will guide us through planning and cooking and give us information about our food intake. Instead of more, we will have fewer devices, one object with which you can make anything you want.
Left to right LG Tiiun autonomous nursery, Levoit Core 600S Air Purifier, Retriever by Labrador Systems, Moen Gesture Control Smart Faucet, Multo Smart Kitchen, Samsung Bespoke Smart Fridge
Connected Sports
25% of U.S. homes now own air purifiers, 23% have smart or connected health monitoring devices, and 19% have connected sports or fitness equipment (up 7% from 2020). The increased focus on wellness following the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated health and well-being's digital transformation. There has been an 88% average increase in exercise for people who usually exercise 1-2 times per week during the pandemic. Both remote fitness activities and in-home fitness hardware and services have grown. First, health monitoring devices were about measuring and giving feedback after a performance; now, the input is real-time with coaching and advice on improving.
Left to right Hydrow, EYVA by BlueSemi measures 6 key body vitals, RENPHO AI Smart Exercise Bike, Liteboxer VR, Mativ Smart Mat, Noitom Perception Neuron 3
You can download the PDF of the report here