Headwinds are creating uncertainty in the market: war in Ukraine, wrenching inflation, the specter of recession as well as rising COVID cases, supply chain disruptions, chip shortages and the approaching mid-term elections — the list goes on. But in this moment, technology is also providing solutions to help us adapt to some of these challenges.
And not all changes are bad — in fact, they often provide unexpected opportunities.
CTA’s Tech Week was bustling with the energy of entrepreneurs and companies eager to show their products and services to congressional and industry leaders at CTA’s annual CES on the Hill. This was the first time this event was hosted at CTA’s Innovation House. The week also included the Digital Patriots Dinner held at the JW Marriott where CTA honored Nevada Senator Jacky Rosen and the Problem Solvers Caucus, represented by Co-Chairs Brian Fitzpatrick and Josh Gottheimer. Along with CTA’s Lobby Day, these events inspire, engage and inform CTA members, government officials and media. Check out i3’s coverage of this policy line-up to see innovation across a range of sectors.
In this issue, we talk with Ice Mobility Co-founder and Chairman Denise Gibson who runs the wireless technology supply chain solutions and logistics leader. She shares her thoughts on supply chain challenges, market opportunities and advice for entrepreneurs just starting out.
As companies look to leverage disruptive change, chart business strategy and form relationships, we check out a few technologies transforming the industry. Robotics is rapidly growing due to the advancement of artificial intelligence, micro-mechanics and sensors, and spilling into uses, such as exoskeletons for medical prosthetics and therapeutics. We examine humanoid robots and how they are learning to better relate to us.
We also look at smart surfaces in vehicles and the many applications this creates. As display screens proliferate in cars and trucks, designers are embracing the idea of hiding displays and other interfaces when not in use whether on the interior or exterior of the car. Some smart surface technology shown at CES could be in cars in five years with the designs trending towards sleek minimalism.
Looking ahead, we view the trends shaping smart retail as well as the first metaverse for e-Commerce, examine a few use cases of blockchain including smart contracts that can revolutionize logistics, and reveal how FinTech is advancing quickly to potentially create a U.S. government cryptocurrency, enabling users to transact without using the banking system. However, there are challenges to this approach.
