CES is back: The case for and against

[Packt]( Tech News from Packt CES – the Consumer Electronics Show – was back this week. Possessing all the glitz and glamor you’d expect from an event with a penchant for the outrageous and unbelievable, it showcases the tech industry at its weirdest and, arguably, worst. This isn’t to say that it isn’t worth a little bit of investigation. At the very least it’s a spectacle of innovation and invention, even if those innovations feel like an exercise in hoodwinking consumers with buzzwords that many of us in the tech industry greeted with a wry smile just a few years ago. Some of our “favorite” products include: - AI-powered kitty litter boxes - A ‘smart’ food processor called Julia - Steampunk VR goggles courtesy of Panasonic But is CES really that bad? Is it vapid, or is it a demonstration of what engineers, inventors, designers can build when they think big? The case against... At a time when scrutiny of the tech industry has never been more intense, CES’s display of largely pointless products and inventions only reaffirms how many in the wider world view the industry. Global concerns around data privacy and security are at odds with the carnival spirit of CES. And with the issue of sustainability feeling increasingly urgent, the notion that innovation is nothing but an engine for consumer spending just feels grotesque. The case for... The tech industry has taken quite a beating over the last year or so. But CES demonstrates the industry’s ability to excite and engage – it’s an event that sparks the imagination of the wider public. And while many of the inventions and products might appear facile, many could be transformative. MedTech products, for example, ranging from diabetes alert systems to robots that can perform surgery could have a huge impact on the way we think about healthcare in the future. What do you think? Does the tech industry need to take more responsibility for innovation? Or should it seek to inspire and engage the wider world? Whatever you think, learn new skills and technologies to help you build better software in the future. [Develop your skills for $5]( [Packt on LinkedIn]( [Packt on Twitter]( [Packt on YouTube]( [Packt on GitHub]( [Read Online]( | [Contact Us]( | [Update Email Preferences]( | [Unsubscribe]( © Packt Publishing 35 Livery Place Birmingham, West Midlands B3 2PB United Kingdom All rights reserved.