CES technology trade show adopts social theme
LAS VEGAS: The inaugural theme in the 56-year history of the CES technology trade show adopts social theme titled”human security for all,” which was taken over by farm equipment.
John Deere Chief Executive John May outlined a strategy for leveraging technology to feed a hungry world as arable land and rural labour are declining while expenses are growing in his speech kicking off the Consumer Electronics Show on Thursday.
“Technology allows farmers to create more with less,” May told an audience of 2,000 at one of the world’s largest tech events, organized by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA).
To urge the technology sector to contribute to solving the world’s most serious issues, the trade association is collaborating with the World Academy of Art and Science and the United Nations Trust Fund for Human Security.
“This is the next big idea,” said Walt Stinson, co-founder of electronics retailer ListenUp, who approached the CTA about a potential partnership.
Several panels covered the topic of how innovation helps to address global issues. The use of technology to help develop a sustainable food supply and close the global education gap was discussed by representatives of Nokia of America Corp, Siemens AG, and Google, which is owned by Alphabet Inc.
The Force for Good Foundation is managed by former Goldman Sachs banker Ketan Patel, who believes that efforts to better the human condition ultimately pay off.
“If you add to the purpose of every tech company, all of a sudden you have a moral purpose, you have something that could be hugely profitable,” Patel said, “because your technology reaches a customer base that (previously) was not profitable.”
Garry Jacobs, executive chairman of the Human Security For All campaign, said the CES sessions are the first stage in the trade group’s “rolling thunder” effort to increase awareness throughout all sectors of the economy. In the upcoming months, the organisation intends to present its case to institutions all across the world.
“These challenges cannot be handled by nation-states or multilateral institutions,” said Jacobs. “It requires the cooperation of global society in its different segments.”
