CES 2023 tech I'm watching: Metaverse, ER of the future, food tech, NFTs

The newer West Hall of CES, site of automotive technology, is the image of how the rest of the Las Vegas Convention Center is being remade. 

CTA

The annual Consumer Electronics Show is right around the corner (Jan. 5 through Jan. 8), and once again, it will be a hybrid event, taking place simultaneously in Las Vegas and inside a browser-based virtual meeting hall, as was the case last year.

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Back in Las Vegas

The expanded size of the physical venue in Las Vegas for the 2023 show is an indication of enthusiasm for in-person interactions despite the continued digital element, says the Consumer Technology Association, the sponsor organization of the decades-old show.

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Over 100,000 attendees are the goal for CES, according to the Association. Attendees are coming from 173 countries, territories, and regions, and over 4,700 members of the media have been registered.

"I think people are excited about CES, they're excited to reconnect, they're excited to be back in person," said John T. Kelley, vice president and acting show director for CES, in an interview with ZDNET in New York.

"We're keeping the digital component, but the in-person component is back bigger this year," said Kinsey Fabrizio, senior vice president of membership and CES sales, in the same meeting. For example, the total show floor is 70% bigger this time than last.

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EVs and autonomous vehicles

Among CES 2023's key themes are automobiles and vehicle mobility technology, said Fabrizio. 

Those categories have been moved to the recently built West Hall (situated across Paradise Road from the existing Las Vegas Convention Center) -- which, in January, had CES as its first tenants. Space is sold out in West Hall, said Fabrizio. 

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Digital health

Another major theme is digital health technologies, once again located in North Hall as it was last time. Areas within digital health include sleep technology, digital therapeutics, mental health, and new diagnostic technology. 

"Over-the-counter hearing aids is a big thing we're seeing," said Fabrizio. New regulations passed this year by the FDA in the U.S. relaxed access to the devices, which means consumers can purchase hearing aids without a prescription. (Congress had passed a law pertaining to the loosening in 2017, and President Biden implemented an executive order this year; The CTA was instrumental in working with the FDA on the implementation.)

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AI, robotics, and the metaverse

Sharing North Hall with digital health will be enterprise technology, including artificial intelligence, robotics, FinTech, and the Internet of Things. 

The Venetian Hotel once again houses many grouped exhibits, in what is the old Sands Convention Center, including -- for the second year in a row -- the food tech exhibit, the smart home category, as well as the very broad category of accessory products. 

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