Virtual CES Gives Startups a Trip to Global Tech Stage, Says Taiwan Ministry

Virtual CES 2021 gives many companies that couldn’t afford the physical show in Las Vegas in the past a way to play on the global tech stage, said Taiwan’s Ministry of Science and Technology Tuesday. Startups “that do not have the infrastructure or the resources to have a physical presence at events such as CES, can now participate in the show directly from their home cities and reach a broad international audience,” said the group, which will represent more than 100 startups at CES 2021.

Last year in Las Vegas, the Taiwan Tech Arena had 82 companies. This year’s group of 100-plus at virtual CES will show technologies such as artificial intelligence, 5G wireless communications, healthcare and smart energy, said the trade group. Cybersecurity company ArcRAN will demonstrate its iSecV monitors that use wireless signals to detect abnormal behavior in vehicle-to-everything environments to provide early warnings.

Epicnpoc will exhibit at CES for the first time in partnership with Business France North America and La French Tech. It’s launching Bowl, a starter kit said to create smart products “faster” using a “designer mindset.” Its first kit, Bowl Automotive, will debut at CES 2021 with products for mobility, smart home, retail and smart furniture -- all on the product road map for this year.

Qorvo is pitching companies on its technology to enable CE products for Wi-Fi 6 connectivity, smart home devices, programmable power management, connected car, ultra-wideband for location sensing and proximity awareness and 5G wireless networks and handsets, it said.

Pivot-Solar Breeze will bow Ariel, its latest pool cleaning robot, at CES 2021. The robot uses solar power and intelligent technology to travel a pool’s surface. New to the 2021 robot are front bumpers that sense when the device is approaching the edge of a pool, Pivot-Solar said.

Bodyfriend will feature its massage chair with Quantum Audio Speakers by Bang & Olufsen. Bodyfriend’s digital healthcare platform uses artificial intelligence to recognize a user’s voice and commands and reveal muscles and blood spots stimulated during massage, it said. Users control the chairs via a 10-inch tablet attached to a rotating holder that displays information, including health and massage data, recommended content and entertainment played through the integrated B&O sound system. It’s due in February.

Among CES veterans, TCL gave a sneak peek into next week’s featured products, before its global news conference Monday at 11 a.m. EST. TCL will showcase its Mini-LED TV technology and “future display technologies.” The global CE vendor will also exhibit QLED TVs and appliances, it said.