i3 - January/February 2021 - 4

Editor's Note

A Fresh
Start to the
New Year
The first ever all-digital CES 2021 is here connecting exhibitors, customers, thought leaders and media, and enabling participants to hear from tech innovators, see cutting-edge
technologies and product launches, and engage with global
brands and startups. CES continues to show the promise of the
future with technologies that improve lives in unforeseen ways.

lthough the coronavirus is
still progressing worldwide,
tech innovators are keeping
us connected, productive
and entertained as we social distance,
powered by innovative new products
and services. Pioneering technologies
such as AI, virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR) and 5G are helping
to fuel many of these advances.
In this issue, we look at some futuristic tech including how our reality
could soon be enhanced by emerging
technologies like extended reality (XR),
AR and VR that can create portals to
move between the physical and the
digital world, as well as the concept of
digital twining that is being used in
medicine and manufacturing. We also
examine the " configurator " or " build
your own " section on many websites
that is making buying a vehicle online
much easier and more compelling, the
promise of 5G as it marches across
the globe and the fascinating arena of
AI and robotics that are enabling
enhancements in health care.
Our cover story profiles Chairman
and CEO of General Motors Company
Mary Barra who shares her insights on
how technology is revolutionizing the
automotive industry, the role of electric and self-driving vehicles, and the

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021

i3_0121_04_FOB_EditorNote.indd 4

significant tech developments she
sees going forward.
On a more somber note, we examine how cyber criminals persist in finding inventive ways to attack the retail
industry's activities in ecommerce, traditional retail store operations and the
supply chain. Security is a significant
factor in connected products and the
related services retailers sell, whether
for smart home, smart vehicle or other
digital applications. For more information on CTA's new cybersecurity technical standards that can underpin the
retail and supply chain protective
strategies see Pipeline on page 13.
And last, but not least, our special
section on the 2021 Innovation Award
Honorees includes the Best of
Innovation award winners who are
showcasing their groundbreaking
technologies at CES. This program
recognizes the technologies of the
future and those selected as
Innovation Award honorees reflect
the ingenuity of our industry. Have an
incredible experience at CES 2021
and please send comments to:
cstevens@CTA.tech.

Cindy Loffler Stevens,
Editor-in-Chief

PRESIDENT AND CEO

Gary Shapiro

SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT

Jean Foster

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Cindy Loffler Stevens
SENIOR CREATIVE
MANAGER

MANAGER,
CREATIVE DIRECTION

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

CIRCULATION
MANAGER

John Lindsey

Matt Patchett

Ian Shields

Gretchen Mitchler

EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS

Gary Arlen, Robert Calem,
Bill Nottingham, Steve Koenig, Natalie Hope
McDonald, Susan Schreiner, Murray Slovick
EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD

Kari Aakre, Intel; Dave Arland, Arland
Communications; Peter Brinkman, Casio; Gabriele
Collier, HDMI; Kristen Cook, The Marketing Shack;
Danielle Deabler, NPR Labs; John Dunstan,
Netgear; Sean Durkin, Tencent; Bill Kircos, Intel;
Chris Loncto, Sharp Electronics Corp.;
Daniel Pidgeon, Sears Home Services; David Steel,
Samsung; John Taylor, LG Electronics

DESIGN, PRODUCTION AND PUBLISHING MANAGEMENT

MANIFEST.COM

ASSOCIATE CREATIVE
DIRECTOR

Tami Rodgers
SENIOR ART DIRECTOR

Andrea Heser

PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGY

Marilyn Bain
PRODUCTION MANAGER

Laura Marlowe

PHOTO EDITOR

ASSOCIATE OPERATIONS
DIRECTOR

Leah Rudolfo

Alix McNamara

It Is Innovation (i3) is published as a service to the members of the
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technology industry. CTA represents more than 2,200 U.S. manufacturers
of audio, video, digital imaging, accessories, mobile electronics, home
networking, wireless communication, information technology and multimedia
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i3 - January/February 2021

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