The CES Keynote usually involves streaming — not the online type to which we have become accustomed, but the more literal manner, with a couple or more thousand people toward a series of escalators in the Las Vegas Palazzo on the way to finding a seat in a cavernous, darkened ballroom. Tonight, I had a bowl of soup in my kitchen and then went to my home office to watch the keynote online. Such is the virtual CES of 2021. Convenient, but a little less exciting.
Verizon CEO Hans Vestberg discussed 5G. Not the engineering issues. Not the costs. Not the policies. But the promises, touching at times on points that we look for in these pages — using technology meaningfully.
How I attend CES this year reflects the experience so many of us had last year, and are continuing to experience. Our homes become our offices and schools and gyms and restaurants and theaters. The matter of so-called “basic” connectivity has achieved new resonance as policymakers and others from various sectors evidence a deeper appreciation for the impact that connectivity can have for education, economic development, health care and other vital services. But how those services will be improved with new technology is the exciting lynchpin of CES.
Consider 5G, the focus of the Verizon keynote at the conclusion of CES Media Day. A lot of talk about NFL game experiences. And street traffic management. And drones.
So, in the vein of “using technology meaningfully,” let’s connect a few dots.
Take, for example, the matter of compliance with prescription medications among the elderly. Compliance may be affected by forgetfulness or obstacles to obtaining medication; even where a prescription might be called into the pharmacy, home delivery may be necessary in some circumstances. Now consider the use case for drone deliveries, either for remote locations or to accelerate distribution. UPS CEO Carol Tome joined Verizon tonight to talk about work between Skyward, a Verizon company, and UPS Flight Forward, a drone delivery service. Lest anyone think that drone delivery falls under the umbrella of “Things we’ll do one day,” well, it is happening now. Flight Forward was certified by the FAA in 2019 and has since completed more than 3,800 deliveries. Of course, that is a molecule in the ocean when compared to the 10,000 deliveries that UPS makes daily, but it is a terrific step forward toward delivering essential healthcare items and medications, particularly to homebound people and particularly during a pandemic. And, while Vestberg took the stage tonight to discuss 5G, Skyward and Flight Forward operate on 4G. So, there is yet untapped potential as drones will be able to make use of faster, real-time traffic management information.
But once medication is delivered, there are the matters of reminders, monitoring, messaging and intervention. Last year’s CES featured Keurig-type devices that dispense daily prescription pods on a predetermined schedule. The machines sound alerts and reminders and, more importantly, can notify caregivers when prescriptions are not taken. Those notifications, in turn, can trigger intervention which may take the form of a phone call, video chat or home visit by a caregiver. In short, technology supporting humans, which is also a keystone of how we use technology meaningfully.
Finally, robots. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has published one of a growing number of studies that explores the role of connected technology and robots in elder care and healthcare compliance. Robots have been studied not only to assess their capabilities to assist in so-called “administrative” functions but emotional needs, as well, such as combatting loneliness.
So, this is just the start. The rest of this week is packed with online sessions from CES, including one featuring NTCA CEO Shirley Bloomfield discussing rural connectivity. In the absence of a live expo floor, meetings with vendors and industry reps will shift to calls and Zoom meetings in the coming weeks. But the wonder, the promise, the potential for meaningful interactions among technology in all of our human experiences is here, whether from bright lights of Las Vegas or the confines of my kitchen. Stay tuned for more.
