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The irony of a partial blackout at a trade show dedicated to the
latest electronic technology did not escape social or industry
media. "Lights out at CES 2018. Does anyone have a battery
pack?" wrote Endgadget, a technology news site.
Large swaths of the sprawling Las Vegas Convention Center lost
power at about 11:15 a.m. local time, shutting down brightly lit
company booths and darkening rooms used by hundreds of
journalists covering CES. Emergency lights stayed on, and backup
batteries kept wireless internet connections functioning.
CES organizers said power was restored within minutes to the
convention center's South Hall, where many gaming companies had
exhibits. Other areas took longer. Power was fully restored at
2:10 p.m., CES said in a statement.
A preliminary assessment found that moisture from heavy rains on
Tuesday had caused a "flashover" in one of the convention
center's transformers, it said.
Power and rain are not the only challenges CES has faced this
year. A central theme of this year's show is "Smart Cities," and
automakers and other companies have used elaborate virtual
reality displays of tree-lined streets with smooth flowing
traffic to promote technology and investments aimed at relieving
urban congestion.
On Las Vegas' physical streets, traffic crawled on Tuesday as
thousands of CES attendees shuttled between hotels and
conference venues in heavy rain. Long lines formed at the
convention center for cabs. Ride hailing companies such as Uber
and Lyft could not pick up passengers at the convention center,
but operated from parking lots a block or more away.
(Reporting by Joe White; Editing by Richard Chang)
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