CES 04: Mobile Tops Agenda

LAS VEGAS While curved TV screens, Ultra High Definition TV, evolving display technologies and Internet-connected smart TVs will generate buzz at the 2014 International CES, the underlying context at the show will be the integration of content into technology platforms, second-screen developments, diverse interfaces and the role of cloud distribution.

The expected turnout (matching or exceeding last year's 152,000) at the event, which runs Jan. 7 10, will have a chance to see better pixels (as Dolby calls its approach to new imaging technology), more autostereoscopic 3D and a dollop of mobile DTV products. They'll hear from Tom Wheeler, in his first appearance at a major industry event since becoming Federal Communications Commission Chairman, the other four commissioners, the chairwoman of the Federal Trade Commission and from the CEOs of Yahoo, Sony, Cisco and Intel. More than three dozen conference tracks some with dozens of sessions look into digital TV, broadband expansion, music and interactivity among hundreds of other topics.

As CES-goers navigate through the 1.92 million square feet of exhibits at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Venetian Hotel and countless hospitality and demonstration suites, they'll see more than 3,200 vendors, ranging from electronics stalwarts to month-old start-ups, especially in the Eureka Park innovation pavilion. CEA Integrates Social Media Into CES

LAS VEGAS The Consumer Electronics Association will use a number of social media promotions in connection with the 2014 International CES event to assist show participants more easily navigate exhibits, spot trends and connect with friends and business associates.

CEA has set up a social media center, dubbed the Social Media Vending Machine and will host a Social Hour networking event as part of the event, which takes place Jan. 7 10. The organization will also implement a Social Media Command Center which will be powered by FleishmanHillard's black box, an interactive, portable, human-powered technology platform that integrates business data including traditional, digital and social conversations into real-time insight dashboards and visualizations. This technology will be used to sift through the voluminous amount of information generated on the Las Vegas Convention Center show floor and elsewhere. Show attendees will then be able to access a touchscreen dashboard located in the Convention Center's Grand Lobby and containing information about conversational trends and conversation streams at the show.

With such an enormous amount of information generated before, during and after the 2014 International CES, it can be difficult to sift out the most relevant and actionable content and conversations, said Darrell Jursa, senior vice president and partner of Global Emerging Media and Technology at FleishmanHillard. By essentially making big data small, the Social Media Command Center, powered by FleishmanHillard black box, aims to change the way both attendees and non-attendees experience the energy, excitement and innovation of the 2014 CES.

In addition to this effort, Adobe will bring social data visualizations to the CES keynote stage on Jan. 7 and 8 with graphic displays offering top social conversations and trending topics.

The CES social hour networking event is set for 4-6 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 9 and will take place at the V Bar in Las Vegas' Venetian Hotel. This event is structured to provide an opportunity for the CES social media community to gather and meet face to face during the four day show.

The Social Media Vending Machine will be also located in the Experience CEA display in the Convention Center's Grand Lobby. Show sponsors say that attendees who use the vending machine to issue a tweet with the official CES hashtag (#CES2014) and Twitter handle (@IntlCES) will receive a CES-branded t-shirt. And attendees who wear their t-shirts in the exhibition halls will have the opportunity to win gift cards.

We are excited to offer our attendees the opportunity to truly become more deeply immersed in the technology conversations taking place at the 2014 International CES, said Karen Chupka, senior vice president of International CES and Corporate Business Strategy.

The 2014 CES will feature more than 3,200 exhibitors spotlighting the latest consumer technology products and services across 15 product categories. Additional information about the 2014 International CES is available at CESweb.org.

James O'Neal

Streaming and mobile media plus the mass adoption of mobile and tablet devices are atop the roster of trends that Karen Chupka, senior vice president, International CES and Corp. Business Strategy at the Consumer Electronics Association, cites as attracting the greatest interest at the show. Chupka has overseen the event, which is produced by CEA, for more than a decade.

One of the areas we see growth is motion technology and sensors, and how they are enabling additional services, Chupka said. She points to the new TechZones (pavilions with a collection of companies, often small, specialized ventures) that focus on these new technologies, such as the MotionTech and Wrist Revolution zones.

Those exhibit sectors and dozens of others featuring fitness, health and personal communications services subtly underscore a significant issue for broadcasters. Many of the services rely on some sort of wireless bandwidth for connectivity, and although unlicensed spectrum serves many purposes, the ever-increasing roster of connected devices ultimately puts greater demands on, and potential interference for, legacy operations such as broadcasting.

UHDTV AND MULTIPLATFORM DELIVERY

UHDTV will be top of mind and ever-present during the show.

The Ultra HD market is on the rise with increased technology, content and consumer access

LINK:	http://www.tvtechnology.com/news/0110/ces--mobile-tops-agenda/223027...
	See more stories from tvtechnology

Most recent headlines