ThevirtualCES2021tradeshowkickedoffMondaywithpressconferencesfromleadingconsumerelectronicsvendorsincludingLG,SamsungandSony(SNE).Thelatesttelevisionstookcenterstagewithcompaniesshowingoffgiant-screen,ultra-high-definitiondisplays.LGevendemonstratedasee-throughtelevision.
Hisense,LGElectronics,Samsung,Skyworth,SonyandTCLtoutedbig-screensmartTVsatCES2021onMonday.Manymodelsboasted8Kresolution,eventhoughnativecontentfortoday's4Ktelevisionsisinshortsupply.
Samsung,LGandothervendorsunveilednext-generationliquidcrystaldisplay,orLCD,televisionswithadvancedlight-emittingdiode,orLED,backlightingforsharpercontrast.SamsungispushingMicroLEDtechnologyasaneventualreplacementfororganicLED,orOLED,televisions,whereLGleads.Meanwhile,LGandTCLarepromotingalower-cost,intermediate-stepimprovementcalledMini-LED.
Televisionswithscreensizesof80inchesandlargerwerecommonplaceinpressannouncementsatCES2021.Forinstance,Hisensepromoteda100-inch4Klaserprojectiontelevision.AndSamsungtrottedouta110-inchMicroLEDtelevision,whichwillbeavailableinMarch.
PandemicRevivesSleepyTVCategory
TheCovid-19pandemicgavetelevisionsalesaboostlastyearasconsumersturnedtostay-at-homeentertainment.
"ThewholeTVcategoryhasbeenrediscoveredbecauseofthepandemic,"MarjorieCostello,editorandpublisherofCEOnlineNews,toldInvestor'sBusinessDaily."Familiesarespendingmoretimeathomeandtheywantbiggerscreens."
Thepandemichasincreasedtheimportanceofvideodisplaysinourlives,FisherYu,vicepresidentofHisense,saidduringaCES2021presentation.
"Wehavebecomethepeopleofthescreen,"Yusaid.AmidtheCovid-19pandemic,peoplehavereliedonTVandcomputerscreensforwork,education,entertainmentandsocializing,hesaid.
AtitsCES2021pressevent,LGlookedtoextenditsdominanceinOLEDtelevisions.ItunveilednewOLEDTVsthatuseartificialintelligenceforimprovedvideoandaudioquality.TheLGOLEDEvosetsalsoboasthigherbrightness,thecompanysaid.
TransparentDisplayUnveiledAtCES2021
Elsewhere,LGDisplay(LPL)introduceda55-inchtransparentvideodisplaymeantforcommercialsettingslikerestaurantsandshoppingmalls.Thesee-throughtelevisionusesOLEDtechnology.
LG'sTransparentOLEDhas40%transparency,providingsharpimagequalitywhilebeingclearlikeglass.TheSouthKorea-basedfirmseesapplicationsforthetechnologyinsmarthomes,smartbuildings,andmobility,includingautonomousvehicles,aircraftandsubways.
Meanwhile,TCLrevealedprototypesformobiledeviceswithrollableOLEDscreens.Itshowedoffamobilephonewithadisplaythatexpandsfrom6.7to7.8inches.TCLalsoteasedadisplayinatubethatunscrollstoa17-inchscreen.
OthercompaniesholdingpressconferencesMondayatthevirtualCES2021includedCaterpillar(CAT),Canon(CAJ),Intel(INTC),KohlerandPanasonic.
MobileRobotsInvadeCES2021
AtCES2021,LGandSamsungrolledoutnewrobotsforcleaninghomesandbusinesses.
LGshowedoffanautonomousrobotitisdevelopingtodisinfectcommercialsettingsfromgerms,includingthenovelcoronavirusthatcausesCovid-19.TheLGCLOirobotusesultraviolet-Clighttocleanhigh-touch,high-trafficareassuchashotelrooms,restaurantsandclassrooms.LGsaidtherobotwillbeavailableinearly2021.
SamsungdemonstrateditsJetBot90AI+roboticvacuumcleaner,whichiscominginthefirsthalfoftheyear.Therobothaslidarand3Dsensorsandobject-recognitiontechnologythatallowittodecidethebestcleaningpathandavoidcablesandothertroublespots.TheJetBotsmartvacuumfeaturesIntelartificial-intelligencetechnology.ItwillcompetewithRoombaroboticvacuumsfromiRobot(IRBT).
Samsungalsointroducedtwomobilepersonalassistantrobots.TheSamsungBotCarewillactasbotharoboticassistantandcompanion.Itwillremindyouofappointmentsandto-doitems.TheSamsungBotHandyhasaroboticarmandcanhelpwithhouseholdchoreslikepickingupclothes,puttingawaygroceriesandloadingthedishwasher.
Self-DrivingCarsMakeProgress
AnotherfocusareaatCES2021isautonomousvehicles.IntelunitMobileyeoutlineditsplanstomovefromadvanceddriver-assistancesystemstofullyautonomousvehiclesoverthenextfewyears.
Mobileyeistakinga"camera-first"approachtosensorsystemsforautonomousvehicles,MobileyeChiefExecutiveAmnonShashuasaid.Thecompanyplanstoaddlidarandradarsensorstoitscamerasystemsforredundancyandtoreachhigherlevelsofsafety,hesaid.ParentcompanyIntelisdesigningalidarsystem-on-chipforMobileyetouseinautonomousvehiclesstartingin2025.
AlsoMondayatCES2021,organizersoftheIndyAutonomousChallengeunveiledtheofficialracecarthatwillbeusedintheworld'sfirsthigh-speedhead-to-headautonomousrace.TheraceisscheduledtotakeplaceonOct.23attheIndianapolisMotorSpeedway.Theautonomousracecarsarepredictedtoreachspeedsof200milesperhour.
About30teamsfromuniversitiesworldwidearewritingartificial-intelligencesoftwaretodriveroboticcarsinthechallenge.Theyarecompetingfor$1.5millioninprizemoney.