The Consumer Electronics Show, officially known as CES® is the Global Stage for Innovation. It is produced by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), a US trade association.
For the first time, this event will be held both in-person as well as virtually.
As of early October, there were about 1,100 companies signed up as exhibitors. Last year there were about 2,200 in total; in prior years there were as many as 4,400. Clearly Covid-19 will again have a major impact on both exhibitors and attendees of CES.
- Some of the global brands that are already signed up to exhibit are Amazon, AMD, AT&T, Daimler AG, Dell, Google, Hyundai, IBM, Intel, Lenovo, LG Electronics, Panasonic, Qualcomm, Samsung Electronics and Sony.
Cutting-edge technologies and the latest product launches from such global tech powerhouses and promising entrepreneurs are always on view at CES.
As in past years, CES 2022 will feature companies from all corners of the tech industry. Each year, new product categories are added while many recent ones continue to expand their presence.
- For example, only a few years ago John Deere first showcased its latest technology for use in agriculture. And in 2021, cryptocurrency companies entered the exhibitor space.
In January 2022, some known and less known companies including Caterpillar, Indy Autonomous Challenge and Sierra Space will make their CES debut.
- No doubt there will be new entries in the NFT category. (Note: an NFT or Non-fungible Token is a unit of data stored on a digital ledger, called a blockchain, that certifies a digital asset to be unique and therefore not interchangeable. NFTs can be used to represent items such as photos, videos, audio, and other types of digital files.)
With the increase in the number of US states making marijuana legal for recreational use, it would not be surprising to see this industry begin to introduce electronic products and accessories, e.g., Snoop Dogg is promoting a new lighter from BiC.
Listed alphabetically, here are some of the major product categories that will be represented:
- 3D Printing
- Accessories
- AI/Robotics
- Audio/Video
- Drones
- Eureka Park (devoted to startups with prototypes of innovative products)
- Health & Wellness (e.g., beds, pillows, sleep assisting and monitoring apps and devices)
- IoT Infrastructure
- Lifestyle
- Smart Cities
- Smart Home
- Sports Tech
- Transportation/Vehicle Technology (one of the largest groups including cars, motorcycles, buses, planes, Lidar, GPS and tire companies)
- XR/Gaming
Though the focus remains on the consumer, many companies have appeared with products that can be used in business and industrial markets.
So, what products will be the stars of CES 2022?
Within just the past few years, the RING (security app) was first introduced to the public and potential investors and PopSockets (a phone accessory) was launched at CES.
Innovation Award winners and other promising companies with the latest, greatest, new or improved products will be reported on this website shortly after the show concludes.
