The Digital Transformation of Las Vegas

The Digital Transformation of Las Vegas

We often hear about how emerging technologies are destined to transform the cities where we live. But what does that look like, and what does it really mean? My search for answers about how technology is fueling the digital transformation led me to the state of Nevada and the city that never sleeps.

At the recent Cisco Live event, I sat down with Michael Lee Sherwood, CIO for the City of Las Vegas to learn more about the advanced digital initiatives that will better serve its 40 million annual visitors. After choosing a tech partnership with Cisco, the city is continuously expanding its data-sharing strategy rapidly and securely. 

In recent weeks we are increasingly seeing how the city is transforming the world's entertainment capital into a technological innovation hub. For example, there are currently 75 autonomous vehicles going up and down the strip. Elsewhere, Elon Musk's Boring Company has also received unanimous approval to expand its system of tunnels beneath downtown Las Vegas. 

The city is building a living and breathing ecosystem with its intersection system that automatically makes decisions to improve road safety and efficiency. But it's also experimenting with how it can be more sustainable. With 150,000 hotel rooms in the middle of the desert, washing bedsheets take a lot of water, so the city is exploring how it can use sustainable material that is used once and then shredded like paper and made into new sheets again.

Visitors are also flocking to a robotic bartender called Tipsy that lets you order a cocktail from a tablet and watch as the robot makes your drink in front of you. But, the jury is still out whether a robot bartender will listen to your problems.

Have you ever stopped to think about the technology that ensures fast access to the internet when surrounded by 70,000 others or how food can be delivered directly to your seat at an event? Not to mention the tech that brings to life the 4k video on a 160-foot-long jumbotron? I was fortunate to take a look behind the curtain at the Allegiant Stadium to learn more about the Cisco-powered network powered and 1,800 Wi-Fi access points delivering the wow factor to audiences.

"New wireless connectivity is providing much more bandwidth and lower latency, driving up to 10 times faster speeds in venues and the ability to handle more than 1 million devices in a square kilometer, alleviating the phone jams of the past."

Technological solutions could also help improve response times to medical emergencies in public places. For example, if someone is at a sporting event and has a medical issue, Michael believes that drones will be able to deliver defibrillators much quicker than emergency services without having to contend with traffic congestion.

The last best experience that anyone has anywhere becomes the minimum expectation for the experiences we want everywhere. The reality for the entertainment industry is that 5G and Wi-Fi 6 are already enhancing visitor experiences. Aging venues that struggle to keep up with this rise in expectation could quickly fall out of favour with tech-savvy audiences

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The next time you attend a large sporting event or concert, there will be vast quantities of tech that bring your immersive and personalized atmosphere to life. However, we are only just beginning to realize the potential 5G and Wi-Fi 6 can bring these live events to life in real-time.

Listen to my conversation with Michael Sherwood as we discuss living on the edge of technology with IoT and edge computing solutions by Cisco. Listen in as Michael reminds me that all of these things rely on a network, and none of these things can operate without reliable connectivity. For these reasons alone, choosing the right partner to accompany you on your journey is possibly the most important decision you will make.

The City of Las Vegas has created a tech ecosystem and is building use cases that many haven't even thought of yet. But what happens when these new experiences become the minimum expectation for what we want everywhere? Food for thought, indeed.

PRAKASHAN B V

Consultant Empowering MSMEs, Startups & Manufacturers | 30+ Years of Engineering Expertise | Advancing Core Engineering Products, Services & Solutions | Partnering with Businesses to Unlock Growth & Innovation.

2y

Good one! Neil C. Hughes .

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Larry Boyer

Leading & Growing Consulting Practices ★ Connecting Analytics, Economics & Strategy ★ Developing Tomorrow's Leaders & Experts ★ Speaker ★ Onalytica Key Opinion Leader Industry 4.0

2y

So exciting. Thanks for the insight

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