What you need to know
- CES 2021 has been set for the first week of January as a digital event.
- It had previously been optimistically announced as an in-person event.
- CES 202 will return to Las Vegas with a mix of digital and physical elements.
The Consumer Technology Association or CTA, hosts of annual tech convention CES, have made the sensible decision to move its conference next year to a digital, online-only affair. The group had previously announced that it would be hosting an in-person event, having anticipated that the pandemic would have come to a close by then. There were also plans for a more health-conscious event, with masks, hand sanitizer, and social distancing all involved. As 2020 rolls toward the ember months, it's become clear that whatever swift resolution CTA was hoping for isn't happening.
Gary Shapiro, president and CEO of CTA said today:
Amid the pandemic and growing global health concerns about the spread of COVID-19, it's just not possible to safely convene tens of thousands of people in Las Vegas in early January 2021 to meet and do business in person. Technology helps us all work, learn and connect during the pandemic — and that innovation will also help us reimagine CES 2021 and bring together the tech community in a meaningful way. By shifting to an all-digital platform for 2021, we can deliver a unique experience that helps our exhibitors connect with existing and new audiences.
The next "real" CES is scheduled to be in 2022, with both physical and digital elements being put into play. Otherwise, CES 2021 is set to take place on the first week of January, wherever screens are.
Windows Central's Best of CES 2020
