Las Vegas was once again the host for one of the world’s biggest trade shows. Dell Technologies World 2018 attracted 14,000 attendees, and included customers, press, analysts, tech and channel partners. Throughout the three-day event, Dell Technologies did its best to showcase how connected it is to, well, everything. Consumers, partners, and even the machines we use everyday, Dell Technologies can be found everywhere, and with its mega $67 billion dollar merger with EMC behind them, the company appears primed to be a significant player in the fourth industrial revolution. Here, we have collected some moments from this year’s conference.
Announcing customer award winners
Shortly after Michael Dell’s opening keynote, Dell announced eight customer awards for forward-thinking companies. The awards were split in two – four innovators and four trailblazers. Dell recognized Ford Motor Company in its innovator category, citing its connected car technology work, its partnership with Pivotal and its FordPass mobile app. Israel’s oldest banking corporation, Bank Leumi, AeroFarms and Johnson & Johnson rounded out this category. Trailblazer awards went to companies that Dell says are in their early stages of major transformation journeys. Volvo Zenuity – an autonomous driving software joint venture between Volvo and Veoneer – Travelers, Unidad de Conocimiento and the State Bank of India all received the award.
All-star presence
Actor, investor, entrepreneur and philanthropist Ashton Kutcher was one of the guest panelists at this year’s event. Kutcher, who has invested in companies such as Airbnb, Skype and Uber – among many others – provided some valuable insight as to what you should consider when looking to invest in a company. He explained that companies that offer unexpected, counter intuitive solutions that might actually get ahead of the existing tech giants in a specific area, are worth considering. He used Airbnb as an example. “No one thought the idea of having a stranger stay in your home would take off,” he said. “But obviously, it did.” Westworld actor Jeffrey Wright also made an appearance on day one to help show off Bravemind. The project, pioneered at the University of Southern California is a VR treatment for veterans suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.
Not just about racing
Dell partner McLaren Formula 1 rolled up on to the stage – literally – and discussed its transition from a formula 1 and race car company to a technology business. “In our heart we’re racers, we’ve worked with connected cars for 20 years. We’ve become experts in telemetry, analytics, that data is coming back into mission control where there are more eyes further developing that product,” said Jonathan Neale, Mclaren’s chief operating officer. He also provided some insight into McLaren’s work outside of racing. The company is using its expertise in data and analytics to push further into the healthcare industry. McLaren’s real-time analytics have been used at the Birmingham Children’s Hospital in the U.K. They’re also making waves in the autonomous vehicle market where their real-time safety sensors are turning heads. Neale said between 2025 and 2030, the company will push further into becoming a technology company.
New products
In addition to the launch of the Dell EMC Powermax, Dell announced two new additions to its 14th generation Dell EMC PowerEdge server portfolio: the PowerEdge R940xa and the PowerEdge R840. Dell EMC says the 840 was designed for database analytics, while the 940xa is built for accelerating AI-driven workloads for business-critical applications such as SAP and machine learning. The two new servers will be available starting May 22. Also announced at the event was that Dell EMC VDI Complete Solutions now supports Dell’s 14th Generation PowerEdge server infrastructure. Above, Jeff Clarke, vice chairman of products and operations for Dell, presents the PowerEdge R940xa and the PowerEdge R840.
A bustling show floor
Hundreds of vendors set up shop on The Venetian convention floor, including some of Dell’s biggest business affiliates such as Pivotal, RSA, Virtustream and VMware. The floor was very interactive, and encouraged passersby to whip on VR goggles and play virtual pong, build a firewall or, take a break at the Paws and Relax station where several furry companions were available to hang out with. There were also a lot of magicians.
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