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First, some stats:
If you’ve been to the International Consumer Electronics Show, you know this intuitively, but it is as huge as you think.
The show floor(s) span more than two million square feet and “includes enough gadgetry to fill 35 football fields,” according to Re/Code.
The Consumer Electronics Association expects between 150,000 and 160,000 attendees.
With that in mind, Brief is here to help you narrow it down a bit:
Higher and higher def TVs:
LG is promising to finally bring 4K TVs with quantum dot tech, which allegedly will boast a wider color palette and improved saturation. Note that this announcement is five years in the making, with LG first talking about quantum dot technology in December 2010.
Sony already uses the technology in its high-end TVs, while Samsung also is rumored to be bringing LCDs with quantum dots. Forbes has this primer on TV technology, helping you understand everything from HDR to OLED to Smart TVs.
Samsung’s Omni-Directional Speakers:
The perfect match for Samsung’s $8,000 78-inch 4K Ultra HD TV, Samsung’s new omni-directional speakers are as much about being pretty as delivering best-in-class sound. But they aren’t just for the highest of high-end TVs — users can also connect their smartphones and tablets to the speakers via Bluetooth.
The Internet of Things:
Because everyone assumes that you want your coffee maker and washing machine connected to the Internet so you can monitor your home while you’re at work. And who doesn’t need an Internet-connected gaming toothbrush so you can see exactly how well you’re brushing while you’re brushing?
Wearables:
Fitness gadgets, watches, vritual-reality headsets and other wearable devices were all the rage at last year’s CES, and we don’t expect this year to be any different. Products already getting some attention include Apple’s Watch, even though neither Apple nor the Watch will be present at CES in an official capacity, and Google’s Android Wear, which is not a product but an operating system for would-be wearables.
Connected cars:
Auto manufacturers are sort of the Johnny-come-lately to CES, but they are coming to the conference in a big way. Ford alone will offer a two-story display with CEO Mark Fields in attendance and five cars on hand. Daimler CEO Dr. Dieter Zetsche will give Monday night’s keynote address, discussing autonomous driving technology and unveiling Mercedes-Benz new concept cars.
The presence of companies such as Ford, Volkswagen, Toyota, BMW, Audi, General Motors and Hyundai at CES indicates that cars are evolving into “smartphones on wheels,” according to Bloomberg, which also reports that “in-vehicle technology is the top selling point for 39 percent of car buyers.”
The number of cars connected to the Internet will grown from 36 million to day to 152 million by 2020, according to research firm IHS, explaining why it makes sense for auto makers to head to Vegas in force.
Concepts expected to be on show: self-driving cars, self-parking cars, electric roadsters and heads-up displays.
Score a starring role:
And for exhibitors who aren’t busy enough at CES, take an hour or five out of your day to pitch your business idea to Shark Tank’s panel of AXS TV and Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, real estate mogul Barbara Corcoran, QVC’s Lori Greiner, tech innovator Robert Herjavec, branding expert Daymond John and venture capitalist Kevin O’Leary.
The line opens on January 8 at 7 am outside section J of the Venetian Ballroom and wristbands will be distributed from 8 am to 10 am. Everyone who has a wristband will be seen.
A tip of Brief’s cap to CES and Shark Tank’s producers for turning the giant technology show into a perfect marketing and casting opportunity.
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