5 Top Technologies Presented at CES 2021

 

Like so many other things over the past year, the world's largest consumer electronics show, CES, looked very different in 2021.

The popular conference usually takes place in Las Vegas with thousands of people attending. But the physical conference was cancelled this year because of the coronavirus crisis. CES organizers, however, decided¹ to hold a virtual CES show for the first time.

Here are some of the top technology trends presented by companies at this year's online event.

Covid tech

Many new technologies created to help fight the coronavirus were found at this year's virtual show. Several companies demonstrated new disinfecting robots. The South Korean manufacturer LG introduced a self-moving robot that sends out ultraviolet light designed to kill viruses on heavily-touched surfaces.

LG also presented a wearable air purifier and a device that can be carried around to purify air in a car or office. A German company called AirPop showed off its Active+ Smart Mask. The device measures breathing movements and tests the quality of surrounding air.

Several companies are also now offering "touchless" appliances and other products for the home. Kohler and Toto both showed touchless sinks and toilets that can be controlled by hand movements or by speaking to voice assistant technology.

Future TV

Each year at CES, major television manufacturers present the latest industry technologies that could one day be included in everyone's home TVs. In addition to the yearly offerings of bigger, brighter and sharper TVs, LG Display showed off a "smart bed."

The product includes a see-through TV that rises up from the bed structure. Another version of that TV is designed for use in restaurants. It would permit guests to look at the list of available foods while watching food being prepared behind it. LG has also announced a bendable TV version that can change its shape on demand, a creation designed for gamers.

5G communications

Companies showed several 5G products in 2021 after years of promises that the wireless² technology would connect devices in new, superfast networks. Verizon chief Hans Vestberg gave the main speech to open the show. He spoke³ about the next generation of high-speed wireless technology and what it can offer for telemedicine, distance learning and other uses.

On the last day of CES, Samsung presented its latest 5G-ready Galaxy⁴ phones. Throughout the show, other companies held discussions and showed the uses for 5G in phones and other products.

Future of work

Many people across the world have now had almost a year of experience getting used to working at home. During that time, people have had the chance to see what things work and what things do not. Companies are offering a series of devices and products aimed at improving the home office.

For example, computer maker⁵ Dell showed off a video-conference monitor that is easy to move around to get to the best position for video calls. The American company Shure presented a microphone for the home office designed to improve speech audio quality for video conferencing. And Targus is offering a product designed to disinfect desk electronics, as well as an anti-germ backpack for carrying around work computers and devices.

Smarter cars

This year's CES provided an early look at the latest in electric and self-driving vehicle technologies.

Mercedes-Benz showed off its artificial intelligence-powered "Hyperscreen," which stretches across the entire width of the car. The device can answer voice commands and lets the driver and front seat passenger do things like make a phone call or activate⁶ seat settings.

Fiat-Chrysler offered interactive⁷, three-dimensional, or 3D, virtual tours of its cars and technology. The company also worked with Google to create an augmented⁸ reality model of its Jeep Wrangler⁹ 4xe electric and gas vehicle that people can see on their phones.

Words in This Story

virtual – adj. taking place online or through computers, not physical

trend – n. the general direction of change

disinfect – v. to kill germs

appliances –n. (pl.) machines such as dishwashers, ovens, microwaves that are electric and carry out a job in people's homes

bend – v. to change shape by using force

monitor – n. a device, like the screen of a TV, that lets a person see computer activities or listen to programs and sound

artificial intelligence –n. an area of computer science dealing¹⁰ with giving machines the ability to learn like humans

three-dimensional (3D) – adj. involving something that has width, depth and height

augmented reality – n. using computer technology to increase a person's experience of reality

1 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

2 wireless   

adj.无线的；n.无线电

参考例句：

• There are a lot of wireless links in a radio.收音机里有许多无线电线路。
• Wireless messages tell us that the ship was sinking.无线电报告知我们那艘船正在下沉。

3 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

4 galaxy   

n.星系；银河系；一群(杰出或著名的人物)

参考例句：

• The earth is one of the planets in the Galaxy.地球是银河系中的星球之一。
• The company has a galaxy of talent.该公司拥有一批优秀的人才。

5 maker   

n.制造者，制造商

参考例句：

• He is a trouble maker，You must be distant with him.他是个捣蛋鬼，你不要跟他在一起。
• A cabinet maker must be a master craftsman.家具木工必须是技艺高超的手艺人。

6 activate   

vt.使活动起来，使开始起作用

参考例句：

• We must activate the youth to study.我们要激励青年去学习。
• These push buttons can activate the elevator.这些按钮能启动电梯。

7 interactive   

adj.相互作用的，互相影响的，（电脑）交互的

参考例句：

• The psychotherapy is carried out in small interactive groups.这种心理治疗是在互动的小组之间进行的。
• This will make videogames more interactive than ever.这将使电子游戏的互动性更胜以往。

8 Augmented   

adj.增音的 动词augment的过去式和过去分词形式

参考例句：

• 'scientists won't be replaced," he claims, "but they will be augmented." 他宣称：“科学家不会被取代；相反，他们会被拓展。” 来自英汉非文学 - 科学史
• The impact of the report was augmented by its timing. 由于发表的时间选得好，这篇报导的影响更大了。

9 wrangler   

n.口角者，争论者；牧马者

参考例句：

• When the strangled wrangler dangles the mangled spangles on the bangle jangle.被绞死的辩论者晃荡时，手镯上撕碎的小金属片发出刺耳的声音。
• A wrangler is a cowboy who works with cattle and horses.牧马者是放牧牛马的牛仔。

10 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。