CES: Day One First Thoughts

Got into Vegas yesterday for the first day of the Consumer Electronics Show, which is really the biggest one week toy store in the world. My focus for the show is the future of whole house audio/video for an upcoming report (including next-gen HDTVs, various set-top boxes, networking, Internet devices, etc.), but I am also taking a look at the latest in telephony and mobile technologies; technologies geared towards parents/children, handicapped, and seniors; and peripheral devices and technologies. I had a chance to meet several companies at the CES Innovations Award showcase, and I will be reporting on these in separate posts.

I am also doing homework to create a short list for the first annual Trender Awards... more on that later.

My first thoughts so far include:

1) Smaller crowd than last year. Must be less than 100,000 people based on the crowds-- last year was over 120,000.

2) HDTV market evolution to new technologies like OLEDs and 3-D tech-- and Internet connectivity.

3) Internet TV devices, UIs, and services are exploding, but we still have a clutter of competing protocols and approaches that are impeding market adoption.

4) Lots of niche products to help people manage all their gadgets and space, from improved form-factor power strips to more ergonomic headsets.

5) Oh yeah. Lots of robots.