Dubai, United Arab Emirates (CNN) -- Sterilizers, next-generation fitness equipment, and robots that help you cook dinner... These are some of the many new products that are expected to be unveiled next week at the Consumer Electronics Show. CES, the annual tech conference that identifies the year's biggest trends.
There is no doubt that home automation, health and 5G will be among the buzzing topics this year, but many companies will also offer special features related to the pandemic that forced the world to stay at home this year.
Every year, reporters, exhibitors, and investors explore Las Vegas showrooms packed with giant TVs, smart cars, and robots, but this year, due to the coronavirus, CES will be online-only for the first time in the show's 54-year history.
The Consumer Electronics Association, the nonprofit that organizes the 4-day event that begins on Monday, said 1,800 exhibitors from around the world will fill its "digital site" this year — a much smaller number than the 4,000 that attended. exhibition last year.
The move will allow technology companies from countries that have not previously attended the fair online, but may also make it difficult for smaller companies to be noticed without being physically present on the ground.
Registered attendees will be able to stream and rewatch keynote addresses from companies like Verizon and General Motors, as well as listen to breakout sessions and search through the exhibitors' history for new product presentations.
5G
5G networks are expected to dominate discussions at CES 2021 just as they did last year. The CES website notes that about 20 sessions will delve into how 5G is reinventing industries, from cars and smart cities to healthcare and agriculture. Laptops connected to the 5G network may also appear.
Health technology
Health and fitness equipment and wearables have always been popular at CES, but this year the category will double, due to the increased demand following the pandemic and the industry's gradual move in this direction.
digital transformation
The move to the internet that we saw last year will be a major talking point at CES, from telehealth to working from home, distance learning, and live streaming, as well as how technology can better support these changes.
smart home
With millions of people staying at home, companies are hoping to add more smart devices and systems to living rooms, kitchens, and other spaces. Unlike products such as smart refrigerators and washing machines, devices such as robotic vacuum cleaners and air filters may become smarter through voice integration.
Samsung Galaxy S21 phone
The Samsung Galaxy S21 launch event will not be officially part of CES, but the company will use the last day of the conference to unveil 3 new smartphones.