Technology in 2020: CES, foldable phones and surveillance tech ++REPLAY++

Technology became ever more central to our lives in 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic limited in-person interaction, and almost everything - from mango festivals to exploring a Kenya wildlife reserve - went online. In the first part of the year, Las Vegas tech show CES wowed with its annual helping of the latest gadgets, and privacy activists warned about the use of surveillance technology to halt the spread of coronavirus.

Las Vegas: The tech year began with the CES gadget show in Las Vegas.

Emotional robots and artificial intelligence applications were the hot trends at this year's annual tech conference, as smaller companies and startups got a chance to show their products at the Unveiled event. To know what else was under the hot trends list, see the video below:-

• Samsung's CES showcase didn't go as planned as its new smartphone-inspired rotating TV failed to respond.
• Samsung later said it was due to unreliable wi-fi that prevented the smartphone from connecting.
• Screens at airports are a jumble of flight numbers, times, and gates, but US airline Delta wanted the screens to be just about you.
• At CES, the airline said it would soon start testing airport displays that only show you your flight information, using a technology called "Parallel Reality".
• Personal assistant devices that take instructions are becoming a feature of modern life, but artificial "human friends" are still the stuff of science fiction.
• At CES, a company called Neon was looking to change that, unveiling an AI bot with a human face that can laugh, joke and will maybe one day teach you yoga.
• Swiss-American drone company Sunflower Labs announced a new "home drone security" system at the CES.
• It looked and sounded like something that might guard the lair of a James Bond villain.
• If trespassers step onto your lawn, a camera-equipped drone flies out from its resting place to take a look at them, all while streaming a live video to your smartphone or tablet.

A New Zealand company showed off a new way to get moving on water, with the help of pedal power and an electric engine.

The Manta5 Hydrofoiler XE-1 can reach speeds of 12 mph (20 kph) and has a battery that lasts for an hour of water cycling.

Samsung unveiled a new foldable phone, the Galaxy Z Flip, in February.

It was the tech giant's second attempt to sell consumers on phones with bendable screens and clamshell designs.

• Chinese tech giant Huawei wasn't far behind.
• Huawei thought it had cracked it with its new foldable smartphone, the Mate Xs, its first to be launched outside of China.
• But phone users would have to do without Google's Play Store, after the Trump administration blocked Huawei's access to U.S. components and technology.

Barcelona's tech scene didn't let the cancellation of the Mobile World Congress (MWC) due to the Coronavirus outbreak impact its standing, organising a replacement startup event in just ten days.

MWC was cancelled after dozens of tech companies and wireless carriers dropped out over the COVID-19 virus, including major companies like Ericsson, Nokia, Sony, Amazon, Intel, and LG. The companies cited concerns for the safety of staff and visitors.

The future's foldable, according to TCL, but they weren't quite sure how in February.

The Chinese electronics maker said it was developing over three dozen foldable products, including what's claimed to be the world's first rollable, extendable device.

People under self-quarantine in South Korea had to install a new mobile app to allow the government to monitor their health and movements to stop the spread of COVID-19.

• In Russia, pop-up virtual bars replaced the real thing and provided a place for strangers to meet new friends online.
• Tired of staring at your living room walls? Itching for that next international trip? The small North Atlantic archipelago of the Faroe Islands thought it had the answer in April.
• The territory's tourist board created an online experience that lets lockdown web users remotely control a tour guide, moving them through its towns and volcanic islands like a video game character.
• Privacy activists warned surveillance technology and practices put in place to halt the spread of coronavirus may not be easy to roll back once the pandemic had passed.
• Governments around the globe looked into high-tech ways to prevent the spread of COVID-19, including the use of Bluetooth wireless technology to trace the contacts of infected people.
• As the spread of coronavirus eased in Belgium in April, people gradually returned to work and pondered the impact it might have on their jobs.

Europe's second-biggest port in Antwerp tested a device aimed at helping thousands of people employed there to respect social distancing.

Smart bracelets were worn like a watch and vibrated when they came within three meters (9 feet, 10 inches) of another smart bracelet.

In May, with Chinese malls and shops still deserted, many retailers took their products to shoppers with livestream shows.

The "shoppertainment" boom let retailers engage and interact with shoppers in real-time.

It was also a profitable niche for some live stream stars, reaping hefty commissions as their shows draw millions of viewers.

Shinto shrines, a go-to place for many Japanese to pray for good health and safety, were largely shuttered due to the coronavirus pandemic.

But one Tokyo shrine offered prayers online for those seeking solace.

An international getaway was on hold for tourists this year, as the coronavirus pandemic grounded planes and shut borders.

The outbreak left millions of businesses and organizations that rely on tourism short on funds and struggling to cope.

In Kenya, the Ol Pejeta Conservancy took to Facebook and Instagram to bridge the gap.

Sony gave a glimpse of its upcoming PlayStation 5 console in June, as well as previewing a host of new games, including a Spiderman title.

The new console was the long-awaited follow-up to the popular PlayStation 4, released back in 2013.

Several golf courses in the New York City area used robot caddies to help golfers practice social distancing.

But they weren't yet a replacement for real human caddies - they can't offer advice or companionship, rake sand, or help find lost balls.

(AP)