Major CES gadget express turns to tech for virtual salvation
The Consumer Electronics Express known for crowds, sensory-overload, and deal-making is relying on technology it has long hawked to put pizzazz into its first virtual event, kicking off Mon.
The deadly pandemic that has derailed in-person conferences all over the world in the past year forced the buyer Technology Association to follow suit with an online version of the annual gathering in NEVADA.
"CES is probably the most experiential incidents in the world, where attendees can in fact see and touch and experience the best and newest innovations," CTA spokeswoman Jean Foster said during a briefing ahead of the show. "Even though we can not recreate that magic that occurs in Las Vegas, we can bring our viewers a fresh and unique whole digital experience."
Show organizers worked with Microsoft to build an online platform, and support exhibitors craft video tutorial presentations, digital press packages, and chat community forums for engaging with attendees.
"We really designed around the idea of people having the capacity to interact with one another," Foster said, noting that Microsoft Clubs video-conferencing software program was a strong element of the platform.
The digital version of CES is a "true broadcast experience," the centerpiece that will be an online "anchor desk" staffed by social media and tech news veterans.
The anchor desk will stream interviews, announcements, analysis, and keynote presentations, and also recap daily events and preview what's ahead, according to Foster.
More than 100 time of CES development is planned, with many presentations captioned in more than a dozen languages.
Digital CES is counting on artificial intelligence to complement interests indicated on attendee profiles with exhibitors, hoping to put a software spin in the serendipity of stumbling after cool products on show-floors.
Software will recommend people or exhibitors to hook up with, and provide equipment for online meetings or chats.
A media day typically filled with press conferences in NEVADA ballrooms will get replaced with streamed video recording presentations from companies, the list of which include Hisense, LG, Samsung and Sony.
Freed from the NEVADA period zone, CES press conferences will start early-morning New York time and continue in to the evening.
Presentations from keynotes to press conferences might be shorter they have been at real-life CES occurrences to take into account limited attention spans and allow time for fielding problems.
CES has a lot more than 300 loudspeakers prearranged, and a heightened concentrate on periods diving into issues such as for example privacy and 5G net.
Sessions will get immediately designed for replay on demand, and remain accessible until mid-February, according to CES organizers.
When the virtual show floor opens on Tuesday, attendees should be able to mouse click into online exhibition booths for demos and chats.
"A lot of firms are putting a whole lot of strength into creating an excellent online experience," Accenture global computer software and platform head Robin Murdoch told AFP. "One thing we've learned is that we're all willing to try new items digitally."
Building the digital program was a major financial commitment "in the seven numbers," regarding to CTA president Gary Shapiro.
Off-the-shelf solutions didn't encounter CES needs when it came "serendipity, discovery, connecting and the joy of learning," Shapiro said through the briefing.
"We can not recreate, obviously, a few of the things in Las Vegas like the gambling and the ambiance and the face-to-face individual five-sense call," he said.
Organizers shunned the idea of attendee avatars wandering around a virtual CES world.
Despite the investment, Shapiro expected the digital CES to become a learning experience, lessons that would be used to improve a "hybrid" event next year with a physical gathering in NEVADA.
"We love technology and what it's doing," Shapiro said. "But, it's actually different then being their face-to-face."
Source: japantoday.com
