The online platform leverages AI and automation to provide an unparalleled experience for visitors and exhibitors from around the world
COMPUTEX 2021 kicked off today, embracing a completely virtual format to overcome the limitations caused by the global pandemic. The show’s organizer, the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA), has worked with key global technology firms to launch #COMPUTEXVirtual, a month-long platform designed to provide a truly exceptional experience for exhibitors and visitors around the globe.
#COMPUTEXVirtual provides exhibitors with booths powered by AI and automation technologies. The platform facilitates a variety of communications channels between exhibitors and visitors, including video conferencing, meeting requests and instant messaging. Exhibitors can leverage the power of AI to identify their target audiences for product promotion and receive personalized recommendations to assist them with matchmaking.
Each year, the world’s leading global information and communications technology trade show features leaders of some of the industry’s most influential companies — and COMPUTEX 2021 is no exception. Today’s opening keynotes by Intel chief revenue officer Michelle Johnston Holthaus and Arm CEO Simon Segars will be followed over the next few days by other luminaries, including AMD CEO Lisa Su, Micron Technology CEO Sanjay Mehrotra, Supermicro CEO Charles Liang and NXP Semiconductors CEO Kurt Sievers. In addition, NVIDIA head of enterprise computing Manuvir Das will present on “The Transformational Power of Accelerated Computing, from Gaming to the Enterprise Data Center.”
#COMPUTEXVirtual features 147 exhibitors from 33 countries and regions, including Taiwan’s Acer, Asus, Delta Electronics, and Gigabyte, as well as international heavyweights such as AMD, Intel, NVIDIA, NXP, and Qualcomm. The show has four unique features this year: tech insights through keynotes, COMPUTEX Forum and InnoVEX Forum; virtual booths where exhibitors will display their latest products; matchmaking and networking via a variety of communications technologies; and hyper-personalized recommendations generated by AI to provide exhibitors with marketing strategies.
Exploring a ‘New Era of Intelligence’
One of the biggest highlights of the trade show calendar, the COMPUTEX Forum this year examines “The New Era of Intelligence,” with an emphasis on artificial intelligence (AI), 5G communications, Internet of Things (IoT) technology and electric vehicles. On June 2 and 3, these topics will be discussed by industry leaders in four panels: AIoT Evolution, AI Empowerment, Critical Technology and Tomorrow Tech. These panels will each feature multiple invited speakers, who will delve into the development of quantum computing, explore the infinite possibilities of future technologies and discuss the business strategies and trends of the post-pandemic world.
With a global market projected to soon exceed US$500 billion, AI will be one of the hot topics at the show. COMPUTEX is working with major international technology companies to showcase the AI ecosystem. Several manufacturers will be showcasing their extensive portfolios of products designed not only to power next-generation AI applications, but also expedite the realization of Artificial Intelligence of Things (AIoT) solutions.
InnoVEX continues tradition of fostering innovative start-ups
InnoVEX, an exclusive exhibit for start-ups at COMPUTEX, provides the perfect meeting place for markets, accelerators, venture capital and partners. Innovative startups have always been key motivators for progress in the technology industry.
Following in the tradition of its offline namesake, #InnoVEXVirtual is a featured exhibition area designed to help start-ups gain international attention. In addition to pavilions dedicated to France, South Korea and the Netherlands, a delegation of 18 start-ups from seven countries led by the European Bank for Reconstruction is joining InnoVEX for the first time. They are among the 79 startups from 24 countries that are participating in InnoVEX this year.
COMPUTEX d&i Awards recognize outstanding products
For more than a decade, the COMPUTEX d&i Awards have not only recognized revolutionary innovation, but also provided the public with a sneak peek at the technology trends of the future. That tradition continues at this year’s COMPUTEX, with 21 judges including investors, journalists and subject-matter experts selecting the 50 most innovative products of the year based on several criteria: Innovation, Technical, Functionality, Social and Craftsmanship, as well as aesthetics. The 13th d&i Awards focused on recent technology trends in nine areas, including Startups, a new category aimed at fueling business opportunities and technological breakthroughs.
The COVID-19 pandemic has changed how people around the world live and interact with each other, which was evidenced in this year’s submissions. Due to lockdowns and an increase in remote work over the past year, the demand for home entertainment and fitness, esports and gaming equipment has skyrocketed, with such products constituting about 38 percent of the total submissions from seven countries for the d&i Awards. From the 50 winning products in the preliminary round, the judges bestowed three special and three gold awards in the final.
