CES 2021 Coverage: A Virtual Show Floor

Estimated reading time: 16 minutes

Microsoft
Microsoft President Brad Smith, in a virtual keynote, urged the tech industry to work together to ward off cyberattacks like the massive breach of network software firm SolarWinds's systems. In a keynote address that Smith pre-recorded for CES 2021, he stated that the SolarWinds breach was not a case of one nation trying to hack into the computer network of another, but “a massive indiscriminate global assault on the technology supply chain.” He said it is the responsibility of the entire tech industry to protect that supply chain. He stated, "It is a danger that the world cannot afford." As many as 18,000 of SolarWinds' customers were exposed to a software vulnerability in its Orion products that allowed hackers to breach the systems of U.S. agencies such as the Justice Department and companies that included Microsoft. Smith urged the tech industry to use its collective voice to tell every government around the world that this kind of supply chain disruption is not anything any government or company should be allowed to pursue. Smith also cautioned that machine learning, which is increasingly being used by companies and organizations across the globe to simplify and broaden a wide range of tasks, can increase the risk of bias and discrimination in a whole variety of different commercial settings. His comments were somewhat frightening and very timely.

John Deere
Last year, John Deere showed off its huge semi-autonomous tractor. This is the company’s third year at CES, and the question remains: Why would John Deere be at a show like CES? The answer: Agriculture is now a high-tech industry and planting is one of the most important parts of farming.

Using this gigantic device, a farmer can know where every seed is placed. It places 100 seeds per second in a precise spacing arrangement maximizing the use of the land. The robot locates and cleans out the residue from last year’s crop, then makes a perfect seed trench to precisely place the seeds across the field, all automated. It’s still farming, but extremely high tech. The accuracy is 2.5 centimeters, and it can come back weeks or months later and find that exact site. John Deere has become a high-tech company automating the entire process. They are truly approaching autonomous farming. They now gather data to measure and improve the yield of the land. How many seeds vs. size or crop?

John Deere, a company that has lasted 184 years, emphasizes trust and gave assurances regarding the data they gather, how it helps the farmer and helps them improve. It uses the phrase, “Farming is Outdoor Manufacturing.” And it is becoming high tech.” Using technology, there is opportunity to measure and improve the earth where the crop is planted automatically in the coming years. (Note, the photo of this gigantic machine was taken at CES 2020, one year ago.)

So Much More
There was so much more to hear and see at Virtual CES. Perhaps in the future it will again be live with some segment also virtual and with virtual replays available. Is this the new normal? Will be return to the old normal? I don’t think that will be the case in either scenario. The new normal is still to be determined.

In any case, following are some additional topics that I did not get a chance to take part in but I still want to view at a later date. You may wish to look up and learn about any of these that may interest you.

• 5G Adoption Showing 'No Sign of Slowdown' Amid Pandemic
• Film Distribution Strategy 'A Work in Progress,' WarnerMedia Exec Says
• TV Makers Turn to 8K, Super-Sized Panels
• Samsung Unveils New AI-enabled Smart Home Products
• Survey Predicts Consumer Tech Spending Will Spike to $461B in 2021
• GM Says Auto Sector at 'Inflection Point' Toward Zero-Emission Future
• Tech Execs See State, Global Initiatives Driving US Privacy Law
• Consumers at the Wheel for Future of Streaming

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