Cool innovations spotted at CES, and the policy trends we should keep an eye on
Every year, tens of thousands of technologists land in Las Vegas to be a part of one of the most innovative technology conventions in the world. The International Consumer Electronics Show, which began in 1967, turned out over 180,000 people this year, and showcased some incredible advancements in robotics, artificial intelligence, autonomous driving, IoT connectivity (internet of things), and many more categories that would make any technologist salivate.
While I’m a self-proclaimed futurist, I’m also a policy nerd, and I couldn’t help but walk through the myriad convention halls and booths thinking, “Wow, when can I get my hands on that!?”
Public policy will inevitably play a huge role in how these new products and their companies are able to be adopted into the world they aspire to advance. Here is a short list of some of the innovations I spotted at CES2019 and a glance at the policy considerations these companies should be prepared for.
SPACe_C eMart: autonomous mobility store by Panasonic
I really enjoyed the entire vehicle technology exhibit from Panasonic. The Japanese electronics corporation may be best known for its home appliances and television sets, but the company has been cooking up tons of advancements in smart homes, smart cities, and vehicle tech. On display were a few of their mobility technologies, including the eMart which allows customers to shop conveniently from an autonomous driving food market, which pops up in locations similar to a food market. The technology also utilizes blockchain to track where food comes from, how fresh it is, and secures payment from the eMart.
I immediately thought about the impact this technology could have in food deserts — communities where access to fresh produce is low and health outcomes are poor.
Policy implications to think about:
Selling fruit and veggies from a robot, hmmm. This could potentially face some heavy regulations from food administrators and health departments, on top of the myriad of policies surrounding autonomous driving vehicles. But if there is a self-driving-cause worth fighting for, this might be it. Access to healthy foods ought to be inalienable right in my opinion.
A.I. powered auto-following suitcase by FowardX
“The world’s first vision-powered side-follow carry-on” allows for hands-free travel. Now, this is just really cool. A self-driving suitcase that follows you by syncing with your phone. Imagine making a mad dash for your gate at the airport, running while your suitcase trails behind you.
Policy implications to think about:
What will TSA’s (and other airport authorities in the world) policy be around this kind of suitcase? The potential that these suitcases may appear to be abandoned bags, which we all know is viewed as a potential security threat. We’ve recently seen policies come out in regulation of lithium batteries in “smart” bags. Certainly there are batteries and other tech inside of these suitcases, which may become regulated, not just domestically, but internationally.
Huawei technology
The controversial Chinese telecoms and electronics company was front and center at the Las Vegas Convention Center, displaying its suite of products, including phones, computers, and smartwatches. It was cool to see these products up close because they are only available for purchase in America through Amazon. But it was also easy to see why the company gets a lot of attention from technologists and foreign governments. On display were some of the company’s latest models — Matebook, Mate 20 Pro smartphone, watches and fitness bands. The similarities between Huawei’s products and its competitors, particularly Apple, are blatantly clear.
Policy considerations to think about:
In addition to intellectual property concerns, Huawei has even bigger policy issues to worry about. Foreign governments are putting the company under intense scrutiny for being vulnerable for use as spy devices for the Chinese government. Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Britain, and the EU Commissioner have so far banned Huawei devices from their networks, and the US intelligence community (FBI, CIA, NSA) has warned Americans against purchasing the products. While it’s the world’s second-largest smartphone provider, Huawei will surely be facing a number of challenges this year, and will be a tech company to keep an eye out for.
Inevitably new technology will cause a need for new policies to exist around how society interacts with it. We’re seeing more attention being brought towards the tech industry and the giant companies that build and distribute them. And because of this there will be an even greater need to be able to keep track of and best manage the policymaking processes. Without diligent participation in the policy process, companies and consumers may miss opportunities in the adoption of new and emerging tech.
