CES 2021 Highlights Pandemic-Driven Tech From UV Robots to Smart Masks
The all-virtual CES 2021 showcases how the COVID-19 pandemic shapes consumer electronics, featuring UV disinfecting robots and germ-killing keyboards.
The first-ever all-virtual CES makes the COVID-19 pandemic an unavoidable topic, with presenters frequently acknowledging the strangeness of replacing the Las Vegas Convention Center with a digital venue. The global crisis profoundly impacts the technology industry, driving new product categories that range from genuinely organic adaptations to seemingly exploitative marketing tactics.
Robotics companies showcase their response to the crisis by highlighting UV light disinfecting robots from brands like LG, UBTech, and Ava Robotics. These automated systems address the urgent need for sanitation by removing human viral vectors from the equation, while smaller form factors like the CleanPhone and Targus's UV-equipped keyboard bring germ-killing technology directly to everyday consumer devices.
Smart masks also emerge as a growing product category at the virtual event, rounding out a broader shift toward health-focused consumer electronics. Ultimately, the show demonstrates how the pandemic accelerates the adoption of automation and hygiene-focused technology, permanently altering the industry landscape for years to come.