CES 2022 took place in Las Vegas for the first time since 2020, and while exhibitors and attendees were thrilled to be back in person on the show floor, the Omicron variant disrupted attendance, making it much less than we have seen in previous years. As a result, the popular show experienced a lot of empty booths and floor space as companies like Amazon, Google, Microsoft, and Panasonic all opted out. Even so, the show was largely a success, and with some of the familiar faces out, smaller startups had the opportunity to have their voices heard. BIGfish PR has participated in CES every year since 2006 and below are some of our biggest takeaways from the world’s largest tech trade show.

The Innovative

CES 2022 surprised us with some of its innovations. Both Wayzn and Masonite (who teamed up with BIGfish client Ring) released smart doors. Wayzn’s Smart Pet Door looked like something from the future, with motion sensors sliding the door as humans or pets approach, operable through the phone app, voice control, or camera. Meanwhile, Masonite’s M-Pwr Smart Door is taking smart technology to a whole new level. M-Pwr is the first residential exterior door to integrate power, lights, a video doorbell, and a smart lock into the door system itself. The M-Pwr smart door includes a Ring Video Doorbell and Yale smart lock built into the frame as well as a Wi-Fi and Bluetooth powered PIR motion sensor, which is able to determine if the door is open or closed. The door also includes a motion-activated LED light bar embedded in the door’s threshold to welcome guests, while providing the additional security of a lighted entrance.

Although Ring didn’t attend CES 2022 in person, they announced the availability of their Alarm Glass Break Sensor during the event. The sensor works after being placed on a flat surface or wall, listening for the sound of broken glass up to 25-feet away, and alerts users when glass is broken the same way a door or window sensor would alert users when someone enters the home. The sensor uses AI to correctly identify sounds so that the sound of a breaking plate or other background noises do not trigger the alarm. This sensor, available to preorder from Amazon and arriving by February 16, was a major announcement during the show and was a CES top pick by CNN Underscored. 

Also making a splash at CES was another of BIGfish’s clients, Formlabs, who released their Form 3+ and Form 3B+ printers, their fastest 3D printers to date. These printers are 40 percent faster than their predecessors, with improved print quality, support removal and better overall user experience. Formlabs also announced a structural improvement element with their Build Platform 2, which gives users the ability to quickly and easily remove parts from the print surface without tools in seconds, eliminating the need to scrape parts off the build platform, and ultimately streamlining post-processing efficiency and avoiding damaging parts. Formlabs also announced their development of ESD Resin, a static-dissipative material used for objects that are sensitive to unregulated static discharge. This innovation will allow Formlabs to break into new industries like electronic manufacturing, automotive and aerospace.

The Cool

CES has traditionally been a stage for car companies to unveil developments and test the consumer waters, and this year’s new inventions did not disappoint. Mercedes, Chrysler, and even Sony made announcements about EV cars in development. It was BMW, however, who undoubtedly stole the spotlight, with its color-changing concept car. The car uses e-ink to change from black to white, depending on weather, conditions, or even a driver’s mood. While the design itself is very cool, it also has the functional, fuel-efficient purpose potentially reflecting sunlight by changing to a white color on hot days, or absorbing sunlight on cold days. 

It was a generally quiet year for gaming and equipment, though Sony teased the release of a new PlayStation VR2 headset. The headset includes upgraded eye tracking software and inside out tracking, which means that the device no longer requires an external camera. Sony also announced an internal motor addition to the headset, which vibrates with the game, and handheld VS2 sense controllers to further simulate the most realistic VR experience in gaming.

CES 2022 highlighted the expansion of QD-OLED television technology. QD-OLED is a new display technology that uses blue light-emitting diodes to allow the panel to produce the full spectrum of color, meaning there will be an overall improvement in brightness and color performance. This enhancement represents the biggest breakthrough for television display technology in years. Sony and Samsung announced they were rolling out displays using this technology, a substantial improvement upon the current OLED TVs on the market.

The Sustainable

Chevy and parent company GM announced the first electric pickup truck offered by the company. This innovation could make the already popular Silverado brand an even more popular choice in parts of the country where electric vehicles have been less popular. The pickup truck is expected to have a 400-mile range on a fully charged Ultium battery and is part of the automaker’s $35 billion investment in electric vehicles. The truck will still accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in as few as 3 seconds, so the performance of the truck is not sacrificed. This shift toward electric pickup trucks represents a major shift in the automotive industry, and looks to be an insight into the future of sustainability in the automotive space. 

Goodyear revealed a development in their goal of creating a tire made entirely of sustainable materials. The tire company is shifting away from petroleum products to create the carbon black in their tires. Instead, they’re aiming to create carbon black using 70 percent sustainable materials, composed of methane, carbon dioxide and plant-based oil. Goodyear is also looking to make the shift to using soybean oil in a tire’s rubber compound pliable rather than petroleum oil.

Shifting to the field of home sustainability, Canadian-based startup RainStick debuted its circular shower technology at CES 2022. This WiFi-enabled shower system saves up to 80 percent energy and 80 percent water and will start shipping by the end of the year. In addition to being sustainable, RainStick doesn’t sacrifice flow rate, even increasing flow rate by 2X compared to a traditional shower. 

Final Thoughts

Even though CES didn’t look like the trade show we’ve become accustomed to in previous years, it may have been one of the best in recent memory. With exciting developments across different industries, it’s clear that the pandemic has not stymied creativity or entrepreneurship. As many major players left their booths empty, some of the smaller startups seized upon the opportunity to tease new technology that made the show exciting and fresh. Whether all of these products will be released is yet to be seen, but the show itself was definitely a success. And we’re already starting our plans for a very BIGfish PR CES 2023.