Barcelona has been the world's technological epicenter during the recent celebration of the 17th edition of the Mobile World Congress (MWC). A new edition, the first without restrictions after the health crisis, which has managed to exceed the forecasts of the organization gathering 88,500 attendees from 202 different countries during its 4 days of activity.
We are undoubtedly facing one of the great technological events of the year, which according to the GSMA has had an estimated economic impact of 350 million euros, a figure that reveals the gradual recovery of normality in the panorama of trade fairs and business events.
This edition of MWC 2023 has given prominence to technologies such as 6G, Artificial Intelligence, Metaverse and Extended Reality, along with other trends such as cybersecurity and cloud computing, presenting the latest innovations and projects of the world's leading telecommunications companies and pioneering startups that have stood out with their devices, gadgets and other proposals.
Below we show you some of the great proposals that could be seen at MWC 2023:
Great variety of Augmented Reality smart glasses
During the great technological fair of the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona, we have been able to see companies such as OPPO, ZTE, Xiaomi or TCL, presenting and exhibiting their new models of smart glasses, which incorporate Augmented Reality (AR) technology and present diverse functionalities; such as gesture recognition or eye tracking, and a variety of designs.
Wireless AR Smart Glass by Xiaomi
Xiaomi's bet on smart glasses incorporates two MicroOLED screens and a Snapdragon XR2 Gen 1 processor with which it ensures the best viewing quality that from the company itself they call "retina level".
This Xiaomi model also stands out for its ability to detect and control gestures that allows the user to interact with the content they see in Augmented Reality in a much more natural and accurate way, and, moreover, completely independently without the need to connect the glasses with a Smartphone.
Oppo Air Glass 2
This second generation of smart glasses from the Oppo brand allows to project images in Augmented Reality on its two MicroLED displays, while maintaining a minimalist design, very similar to a conventional glasses for everyday use, and a great comfort and ergonomics with its weight of only 38 grams.
Their functions are simple but very useful, allowing the user to make phone calls, simultaneous real-time translations or receive navigation directions, among "many other smart experiences," as stressed from the company.
ZTE Nubia Neovision Glass
Without a doubt, ZTE's model was one of the most curious that MWC attendees could see, as far as Augmented Reality glasses are concerned. According to the brand itself, putting on this model is equivalent to watching a 120-inch screen with only 79 grams of weight.
At a technical level, they offer a binocular HD resolution of 1080p providing a field of view of 43 degrees. In their favor, they also allow them to be easily graduated, adapting them to the vision of each user, and include a visor to avoid the sun. However, their operation requires a cable connection to our own Smartphone, which makes them uncomfortable and impractical on many occasions.
Robots and Artificial Intelligence dominating the show
The Mobile World Congress 2023 has represented an example of how artificial intelligence and robotics can transform the mobile industry. The innovations presented during the event have been amazing and promise to change the way we relate both to mobile devices and to the world in general.
One of the main attractions of the exhibition during MWC 2023 has been the android created by PAL Robotics in conjunction with Telefónica, named Roberto, which has a height of 1.80 meters and is equipped with a variety of sensors and cameras that allow it to interact with people. For its part, Xiaomi not only stood out with its Augmented Reality smart glasses but also with its innovations in robotics with the joint presentation of its robots in human and canine form.
Despite the relevance of robotics at Mobile World Congress 2023, Artificial Intelligence also played a prominent role at the event. Technology giants such as IBM and Google have exhibited their latest innovations in this field, seeking to improve the productivity of business processes and simplify decision-making.
In this sense, there has been a clear trend towards the integration of AI in work environments, in order to maximize the performance and competitiveness of companies.
Virtual Reality and Mixed Reality to amaze the public
Walking through the different pavilions at MWC 2023, anyone could realize that immersive realities are more alive than ever. Wherever you looked, the presence of Virtual Reality and Mixed Reality devices was more than evident, with a great variety of devices from Meta, Pico, HTC or Microsoft, among others.
We highlight the variety of immersive experiences present in the large Telefónica booth of almost 1000 square meters in which, under the slogan, "Making things happen", allowed attendees to discover 5 innovative demos for activity in different sectors such as telecommunications, industry 4.0., agriculture, and putting special focus on Extended Reality and the Metaverse.
These 5 demos included the use of technologies and devices such as:
- Holographic projection of Mixed Reality with the Hololens 2
- Digital Twin to simulate and optimize the production of industrial parts
- IoT and sensorization to deploy precision agriculture solutions
- Virtual Reality. Virtual to introduce attendees to unprecedented TV content with Meta Quest 2
- Development of open and standardized APIs to transform your telecommunications network
From Foldable to Rollable Smartphones
During Mobile World Congress 2023, major innovations relevant to the field of mobile devices were presented. On the part of the mobile industry leaders, Samsung presented its new line of Galaxy S22 phones, which offer notable improvements in terms of performance and image quality. On the other hand, Apple presented its latest iPad Pro, which integrates several innovations in terms of design and functionality.
But undoubtedly, what aroused most curiosity among the public, was the outstanding Motorola roll-up mobile. This device has an OLED screen that has the particularity of being able to be rolled up and unrolled according to the user's preference. The Motorola RIZR Rollable is a representative example of the versatility offered by OLED technology, which opens new perspectives in terms of design and performance for mobile device manufacturers.
Other interesting innovations we were able to see
Iris Smart Ring, the ring that takes care of your health
One of the interesting innovations presented in health and wellness was the Iris Smart Ring, a smart ring-shaped accessory capable of measuring and monitoring biometric data such as heart rate, HRV parameters and blood oxygen level, to identify possible problems or alterations in users' health.
Segway impresses with its first hydrogen scooter
Something that became clear at MWC 2023 is that Segway doesn't just make scooters. And in this new edition, they showed their new prototype hydrogen scooter, baptized as the Segway Apex H2 that promises to revolutionize sustainable mobility in the short term. According to data revealed by Segway, this prototype could reach 150 km/h and have a range of 250 km.
The future flying cab of SK Telecom
The alliance between the South Korean company SK Telecom and the startup Joby Aviation has allowed us to discover the flying taxi, a vehicle that will make it possible to shorten the duration of journeys in cities with heavy traffic congestion. During the presentation of this prototype, attendees were able to enjoy a virtual reality simulation of what a trip with this vehicle will be like in the future.
After this 2023 edition, we can affirm that the MWC is back to stay, with the great public success it was remembered for before the health crisis and consolidating itself as an essential point of reference for creatives looking to keep up with innovations in the field of new digital technologies that will transform the market in the coming months.
