This year, among the expected releases of see-through refrigerators and autonomous vehicles, event technology entered the CES chat in a big way. As we’ve witnessed, the pandemic has accelerated the use and development of virtual event tech, and CES 2021 programming reflected that, with announcements about new digital experiences from tech giants like Sony and Panasonic, as well as launches of gadgets that might help bring IRL events back online safely.
From high-tech face masks to immersive venues, here are the standout product launches, entertainment announcements and breaking news surrounding the event industry from the annual trade show.
Sony Reveals Madison Beer Immersive Reality Concert Experience
Sony unveiled a new concert experience, powered by Verizon, featuring Epic artist Madison Beer, who appears as a virtual avatar performing inside a digital facsimile of Sony Hall in New York before a virtual live audience. Spoiler alert: Behind-the-scenes footage shows Beer actually performing in a studio as she wears a virtual-reality suit. Fans will be able to view the experience on PlayStation VR and Oculus VR, and it will be available on streaming music video channels later this year.
Panasonic Partners With Illuminarium Experiences
Panasonic announced that it is the official technology partner of Illuminarium Experiences, a new experiential brand that creates immersive entertainment experiences in custom-designed venues called “illuminariums.” For the cutting-edge venues, Panasonic is providing 4K projectors, 4K professional displays and 4K professional camera solutions. “We’re excited to partner with Illuminarium, whose mission to expand communal access to amazing but typically out-of-reach places and experiences is truly awe-inspiring,” Joe Conover, manager of Panasonic Live Events Group, said in a statement.
Illuminarium Experiences will open its first three venues in Atlanta, Miami and Las Vegas at AREA15, followed by other domestic and international locations. Opening in Atlanta in mid-2021, Illuminarium’s first spectacle, titled “WILD: The World’s First Virtual Safari,” will showcase exotic animals in their natural habitats. After hours, the venues can be transformed into private event spaces for corporate events, seated dinners and cocktail parties.
Adjacent to its venue in Atlanta, Illuminarium is also building an R&D and post-production center called The Illuminarium Lab, which will serve as a center of research and development in immersive entertainment and interactive technologies.
BioIntelliSense Launches BioButton
The BioButton by maker BioIntelliSense uses sensors to continuously track your skin temperature, respiratory rate, heart rate, activity level and sleep, potentially collecting enough data to help identify if you have symptoms of COVID-19. The American College of Cardiology will offer the BioButton, which sticks to your chest with a medical adhesive, as a COVID-19 screening option to its members who will be attending its annual meeting in May.
Verizon Teams Up With The Met
The Metropolitan Museum of Art and Verizon launched “The Met Unframed,” an immersive virtual art and gaming experience, powered by Verizon 5G Ultra Wideband. It features more than a dozen digitally rendered galleries and nearly 50 works of art from across The Met's vast collection. Online visitors can explore the digital galleries and play games that unlock augmented-reality versions of the art that can then be displayed virtually in their homes. "The Met Unframed" is accessible from any 4G or 5G smart device and is available to view for free for five weeks.
LG Electronics Introduces Germ-Killing Robots
LG Electronics officially unveiled an autonomous robot that will use ultraviolet C (UV-C) 1 light to disinfect high-touch, high-traffic areas. LG plans to offer the robot to hospitality, retail, corporate and education customers sometime in early 2021. The robot is able to move easily around tables, chairs and other furniture, generally irradiating a room’s touchable surfaces in 15 to 30 minutes.
Dell Debuts Webcam Shutter
Dubbed “SafeShutter,” Dell’s new optional webcam system on the latest versions of its Latitude laptops, which are designed for business customers, includes an automated shutter that will physically block your camera when it’s not in use. The shutter will open and close automatically when the webcam is in use, for example, when using videoconferencing applications.
Razer Creates Smart Face Mask With a Mic
Gaming equipment maker Razer created a reusable face mask featuring a medical-grade respirator and built-in microphone and amplifier. Dubbed Project Hazel, the mask, which is not for sale yet, features a transparent design that allows folks to see the wearer's face, plus lights inside the mask activate automatically in the dark.