by Dot Cannon

“Six Christmases, three rock concerts, and at least two educational conferences” is normally a fairly accurate description of CES.

But as CES 2017 celebrates the event’s fiftieth anniversary, even that sounds a little understated.

CES’ official Day One, in Las Vegas on Thursday, started off with job creation, a melding of technology and the arts, and a mind-blowing new wearable.

Singer Melanie Taylor opened the show with her original song, “Dizzy”.  Taylor is the winner of the “Be Our CES 2017 Soundtrack” contest, and her new song is available on Amazon, iTunes and Google Play.

“A half-century of introducing life-changing tech products and services to the world, and we have so much more ahead of us,” said Consumer Technology Association President and CEO Gary Shapiro, at the start of his keynote speech.

Referencing CES’ first show, in New York in 1967, Shapiro illustrated how far technology has evolved.   That event, he said, showcased just three products: radios, televisions and phonographs.

“CES 2017 is our biggest show ever…with more than 2.6 million net square feet of exhibit space,” he said.  “And our show includes more than twenty-five different product areas, in every industry imaginable.”

Over CES’ fifty years, Shapiro told the audience, “we estimate that about 700-thousand products have been introduced at CES.”

But CES just starts with technology–then explores the ways it enhances, or even saves, lives.  Shapiro touched on current augmented-reality and artificial-intelligence advances and the ways self-driving cars can prevent traffic deaths before sharing some new, social innovations.

“You know, we’re on the cusp of great change,” he said.  “But because we are in the tech industry, we must not fear change…”

“It is our job, at the CTA, to work with any Presidential administration, including the Trump administration and the new Congress, to protect and encourage innovation.”

“We want a strong American economy with good paying jobs,” Shapiro commented.

Consequently, he said, CTA’s executive board had unanimously agreed to invest one million dollars in five items.  They would be:

• Supporting the U.S. Tech Vets program, which connects veterans with technical jobs;
• Supporting technical training and certification programs, with an emphasis on helping at-risk youth;
• Hosting a jobs fair, to promote better-paying U.S. jobs;
• Sponsoring a contest, to create jobs among CTA member companies;
• And, opening  two new CTA offices in two different states.

Shapiro said he hoped other organizations would follow CTA’s lead.

“This is a sea change on how corporate America should view its country,” he said.  “How do we assist those who lose their jobs due to new technology?”

“Soon CES will announce a conference in Washington, next May, on the future of work.”

A sea change for the cruise industry

More innovation was coming, in the form of a wearable that may very well revolutionize the travel industry.

For the first time, this year, Carnival Cruises is at CES.   Next on the CES 2017 keynote stage was Carnival Corporation President and CEO Arnold W. Donald, who told his audience that Carnival had historically revolutionized travel.

“Prior to (1972), ocean vacations were only for the most elite.  Carnival Cruise Line made them accessible to everyone,” he said.

Donald then updated the audience on the ways Carnival is breaking ground with new twenty-first century cutting-edge technology.  He introduced: the “OCEAN” medallion, and the launch of “Medallion class” for all Carnival passengers.

“We spent the last few years locked away, in hidden locations across the globe, conceiving, designing and creating, with some of the most talented partners from around the world,” he said.

“OCEAN” stands for “One Cruise Experience Access Network”.  Carnival guests will soon receive an “OCEAN” medallion, prior to their cruise.

What will “OCEAN” do?  Well–just about everything.

“The ‘OCEAN’ mobile platform delivers a lifestyle engagement.  And this is a real game changer,” Donald commented.

When guests wear the coin-sized “OCEAN” medallion on board, it automatically unlocks doors as they approach.  Passengers can use it as currency, play digital and physical games with it, or navigate it to discover shipboard activities customized to them.

Since each guest’s profile is uploaded to that person’s medallion, “OCEAN” can provide a unique cruising experience.

“You’ll essentially have a personal concierge always available,” commented Princess Cruises and Carnival Australia Group President Jan Swartz, at the conclusion of the morning keynote session.  Swartz then said that Princess Cruises would be launching “Medallion class” in November.

After Shapiro, Donald, Swartz and the team members who’d created “OCEAN” had cut the 50-year ribbon, it was time to explore the innovations that will shape the next fifty years–and beyond.

Among just a very few favorites from the rest of the day:

These “Blade 3000 Smart Sunglasses” (they allow you to see text messages or play a computer game in midair!);

This Loctek® ergonomic desk exercise bike–riding it is painless and almost automatic.  (That’s from this reporter’s personal CES experience!)

And, Samsung’s virtual-reality “Robot Wars Space Racing”.

Happy Anniversary, CES!  Can’t wait to see what Day 2 brings.