Speaker: Bob Sanborn
The annual CES show in Las Vegas is a place where new technology for homes and businesses are displayed. Bob will summarize some of the most interesting developments that might be coming our way. Early indications are that more humanoid robots are about to be more common.
Bob Sanborn is an active IT consultant with more than 50 years in this business. He is the former president of the Indianapolis Computer Society and a long time Scientech Club member.
Program: Highlights of the Consumer Electronics Show for 2026
Speaker: Bob Sanborn, Scientech Club Member
Introduced By:
Attendance: NESC: 73, Zoom: 31
Guest(s): Theresa Minton, Jim Gulley, Daba Gedafa, Todd Sangor
Scribe: Benny Ko
Editor: Ed Nitka
Talk’s Zoom recording found at: https://www.scientechclubvideos.org/zoom/01192026.mp4
Speaker Bob Sanborn is an active IT consultant with more than 50 years in the business. He is the former president of the Indianapolis Computer Society and a long-time Scientech Club member. Bob has been attending the Consumer Electronics Show for over thirty years, and this presentation was his report on the 2026 trade show in Las Vegas.
The annual CES trade show in Las Vegas is held in January, connecting innovators, decision-makers, media, influencers, visionaries, and potential customers across the entire tech ecosystem. Besides Americans, others come from all over the world, totaling about 4,000 exhibitors. Bob commented on the changes in Las Vegas over the past decades, from sprawling new hotels to snarled traffic. The Convention Center is huge and has a floor space equivalent to 45 football fields.
Among the new products and inventions that impressed Bob are:
- GeoWind: A vertical access wind turbine suitable for urban settings
- A microRGB TV introduced by Samsung: It features a huge screen and comes with an AI-controlled sound bar that can selectively control the different sound layers of the screen content. It is priced at $35,000.
- Timekettle introduced AI Translation Earbuds: It enables users to have real-time, 2-way translation across 43 languages.
- Robotic Innovations: Various robots showcased, including those for home tasks, lawn mowing, delivery, folding the laundry, and even performing music.
- Electric Bicycles: Some electric bikes can go as fast as 30 mph. No driver's license is required to operate.
- Autonomous Vehicles: Featured several self-driving and self-flying technologies, including drones and cars designed for personal use. No driver's license is required to operate.
- Electric vehicles: Growth in electric car technology, particularly from Chinese manufacturers.
- Saber has an AI-assisted consumer service that can help travelers with flight booking, hotel and car rental reservations, etc.
- Coffee makers that can make cold-brew coffee in minutes. An ice-maker that can make ice instantly.
- A large outdoor grill that is mobile on command.
- A walk-through dog washing machine.
- A John Deere X9 giant combine that is self-driving, AI-assisted, and multi-task capable.
In closing, Bob suggested AI applications, electric vehicles, and robotics are the trends of the future. It will have an impact on consumer habits and may affect the job market. In AI, the US still holds an edge over its overseas competitors. In other areas, they are fast closing in on us.
This web site has everything that he talked about with links to the companies:
PC Lifeline - CES 2026 Cool Stuff
Bob Sanborn
