CES 2022, fair starts despite COVID rebound and absence of tech giants

The Consumer Electronics Show (THOSE), one of the largest in the world of its kind, began this Wednesday in Las Vegas despite the rebound in infections of COVID-19 in United States.

“Despite some highly publicized cancellations among our exhibitors, we have more than 2,200 exhibitors here at CES 2022 in Las Vegas and they are all counting on us to move forward,” said Steve Koenig, group vice president in charge of the convention.

“Why? Well, because these companies are looking for investors, they are looking for partners, they are looking to do business, “he added.

The return of the face-to-face convention was questioned after some large companies such as Meta, Twitter, Amazon Y Google they canceled their participation due to the pandemic risk. However, the organizers cited their vaccination and mask requirements to defend the fair, in which journalists, businessmen and technology lovers participate.

To prevent contagion

Some health experts warned that many people could ignore the order to wear a mask, although they noted that daily tests for COVID-19 will help contain the spread of the virus.

The event will end this Friday, one day ahead of schedule, and its size was greatly reduced with fewer than 4,500 exhibitors who participated in the last in-person edition, in 2020, before the closures due to the coronavirus in the United States.

“We are concerned given the situation and the increase in cases,” admitted speaker Bhavya Gohil, who said he was vaccinated and that the organizers’ precautions reassure him.

The fair is held in a hybrid format, face-to-face and online, thanks to software developed by the European technology company Web Summit.

Despite the smaller number of participants, the event will have firms offering everything from quirky gadgets to technology aimed at humanity’s great concerns.

One of the main themes of the offer is transport, which is increasingly electric and autonomous.

Space technologies also have a strong presence, after a year that saw growing interest in space tourism and the development of satellite internet.

And of course the metaverse is on everyone’s mind, although its definition is not so clear at this point.

The concept refers to the emergence of a world where the digital and the real converge, in which humans will be able to access through virtual and augmented reality equipment.