GAME CHANGERS

All eyes were on Las Vegas in January for the 2022 Consumer Electronics Show, which never fails to amaze. Bruce Scott takes a look at some of the high-tech highlights our brave new world has in store.

- Bruce Scott

The origins of the annual Consumer Electronics Show – now known simply as CES – date back to the summer of 1967, when it was first held in New York City. By 1998 the show was taking place each year in early January and had settled on Las Vegas as its permanent location, with the hot topic back then being the burgeoning DVD format. A lot has changed since that time, but one thing remains constant: the public’s unquenchable thirst for technological innovations.

CES 2022, which officially ran from Jan 5-7, was highlighted by thousands of product debuts, unveiling a myriad of cutting-edge technological feats. More than 2,300 companies from around the world took part, including over 800 start-ups pitching everything from waterless teeth cleaners, robot gourmet chefs, to mosquito zappers that use software and solar power instead of chemicals. Unfortunately, ongoing Covid-19 concerns prompted some major brands to make “virtual-only” appearances – including Microsoft, Nvidia, Intel, TikTok, Amazon, Google, and Meta – but still, there was plenty to see for the estimated 40,000 attendees.

One of the exhibition’s dominant trends was automotive technology, especially advances in Electric Vehicle (EV) performance and production. With close to 200 car-related companies exhibiting – including newcomers to the game like Sony, and VinFast (Vietnam’s first EV manufacturer) – this year’s CES seemed, at times, more like an auto show than a tech show.