[Asia Economy Reporter Park Sun-mi] A report summarizing the innovation technology trends of CES 2023, the world's largest electronics and IT exhibition held from the 5th to the 8th of this month (local time) in Las Vegas, USA, in one word, is 'HUMAN.' Besides showcasing new products and technologies aligned with CES 2023 trends such as the metaverse and mobility, companies presented a new direction called 'human security.' It is evaluated that the question and answer of why the digital transformation is happening could be seen and heard at this exhibition.
On the 18th, the Korea International Trade Association's International Trade and Commerce Research Institute summarized this year's trends as 'HUMAN for Human' in its report titled ‘Innovation Technology Trends Seen through CES 2023.’ ▲Hyper-connected ▲Ultra-sustainable ▲Metaverse ▲Automobility ▲New-healthcare ▲For Human (human security) are the initials of six technology trends.
Major global companies emphasized 'connection' as the core at CES 2023, highlighting hyper-connection among existing technologies, devices, and services. Furthermore, regardless of product or industry, they declared sustainability (ultra-sustainable) ? including ESG (environment, social, governance), energy, and carbon neutrality ? as a key corporate goal. It is also notable that the metaverse was selected as a major keyword. The metaverse directly impacts our lives through virtual services such as virtual showrooms and immersive experiences provided by AR (augmented reality) and VR (virtual reality).
The report also highlighted that this year's CES mobility sector exhibition was the largest ever. Big tech companies such as Google, Microsoft, and Amazon also participated extensively in the mobility field exhibitions. This implies that the competition to dominate the operating system (OS) in the mobility sector may intensify further. Additionally, the increased awareness of health importance after the pandemic has led to technological innovation in healthcare (new digital healthcare), with notable exhibitions of digital therapeutics, telemedicine, and fitness tech products.
It is also noteworthy that 'human security' was newly established as an exhibition category this year. Human security refers to a non-traditional security concept that moves away from the existing national security paradigm focused on military threats and instead sets humans as the subject to be protected from various threats such as global supply chain collapse, food and water shortages. Through 'human security,' it emphasized that the development and convergence of various technologies ultimately aim for human well-being and prosperity.
The Ministry of Science and ICT and the Institute for Information & Communications Technology Planning and Evaluation (IITP) also analyzed in their report 'Trends and Implications of CES 2023' that "this CES has evolved from an event centered on introducing new technologies and items to one that presents the direction of technology such as sustainability and 'human security'." Technologies cited as contributing to human security included exoskeleton wearable robots that provide up to 30 kg of support when worn, robots that autonomously monitor and control water supply status in water pipes, and autonomous agricultural machinery that contributes to increased food production.
ICT officials, after attending CES 2023, evaluated that the digital transformation trend, which began in earnest in 2020, has undergone a three-year concretization process and that the time has come to prepare for real competition. In the 'Trends and Implications of CES 2023' report, ICT officials emphasized, "Our ICT companies must enhance their competitiveness to provide consumers with a 'complete user experience' that combines software and hardware." With the rapid spread of 5G and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies starting around 2020, the era of a hyper-connected data economy has officially opened, and we must prepare accordingly.
Meanwhile, it is encouraging that Korean products won 216 CES Innovation Awards this year, accounting for 35% of the total 612 awards. Korea also won a record 12 out of 23 highest Innovation Awards. Kim Min-woo, senior researcher at the Korea International Trade Association, said, "It is very encouraging that our companies won the most Innovation Awards ever at this year's CES despite difficult conditions such as high inflation and economic downturn." He added, "Our companies should secure competitiveness based on irreplaceable technology and make every effort in market-tailored commercialization and overseas marketing to lead to exports."
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