More than 3,600 exhibitors across more than 2.2 million net square feet; major product announcements, plus Samsung and Mercedes keynotes highlight CES eve
The 2015 International CES® kicks off on 6 January, poised to be a record-breaking show with more than 3,600 exhibitors across the largest show floor in history with more than 2.2 million net square feet of exhibit space, breaking last year’s previously set record of 2.06 million net square feet. Owned and produced by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA)®, the 2015 International CES runs through Friday, January 9.
“We can’t wait for the show floor doors to open to this year’s record-breaking event where attendees will experience the magic of consumer technology come to life across the entire technology ecosystem,” said Gary Shapiro, president and CEO, CEA. “The International CES is the epicenter for the ever-expanding global consumer technology community, showcasing the promise and power of technology and serving as a platform for all innovators, big and small.”
Samsung President and CEO of Consumer Electronics Boo-Keun Yoon explored the implications of a fully connected world powered by the Internet of Things (IoT) during his visionary preshow keynote Sunday evening, which he called “science fact,” not science fiction. He highlighted several scenarios of life made easier, healthier and more efficient because of IoT connectivity, including TVs that automatically pause when you leave the room, wearables that monitor brain waves to track biometric data and music systems that seamlessly transition from your home speakers to your headphones. “The Internet of Things is about people, not things,” he emphasized. By 2017, Yoon said, 90 percent of all Samsung devices will be IoT-enabled; by 2020, all Samsung devices will be connected to the IoT.
Later Sunday evening, Dr. Dieter Zetsche, chairman of the Board, Daimler AG and head of Mercedes-Benz Cars, took the keynote stage and discussed the car of the future, saying that, “Mercedes aims to develop truly superhuman autonomous driving ability” before he unveiled the company’s new concept car F 015. The concept car of the future, according to Zetsche, can drive itself, has seats that can swivel to face each other, and possesses a computerized brain to watch pedestrian traffic. The aim of the concept car is space, time and privacy with the interior featuring gesture and eye tracking control with free floating driving instruments. Zetsche did admit that there are legal hurdles ahead such as liability in the case of an unavoidable accidents, but said those are “industry issues that we must resolve with a joint effort.” He further explained that “quality time and private space will be the true luxury items of the future,” and that these concepts will help us to achieve “the dream of freedom and mobility.”
Innovation, connectivity and cross-industry collaborations defined this year’s preshow press events starting with CES Unveiled Las Vegas, the official media event of the 2015 CES, on Sunday night. A record 109 tabletop displays, including 27 startups from Eureka Park – the CES exhibit area exclusively for startup companies – showed off a sneak preview of show floor product launches to come throughout the week. Drawing one of the largest media crowds in Unveiled history, this year’s event featured companies debuting the latest in automotive electronics, fitness and sports, health and bio tech, immersive entertainment, Internet of things, personal security, smart home tech, sensors, 3D printing, wearables and unmanned systems.
Product announcements continued on Monday, January 5 with CES Press Day, featuring 26 exhibitor press conferences. Major Press Day product announcements included:
- Bosch – BME 680, world’s first sensor measuring humidity, air pressure and gas;
- Dremel, the only UL certified 3D printer on the market; and Njon, an integrated Ebike with smartphone app and online portalChild Angel – Wearable device for children that enables parents to track movements via Wi-fi and GPS, in an effort to avoid being lost in crowded public places
- Dish – 4K Joey, first 4K set top box that also allows side by side viewing in HD; Hopper Voice Remote, dual-mode touchpad with swipe and touch capabilities; Sling TV, Standalone streaming TV service offering the best of Live TV and online video
- Epson – Cinema 600, compact digital projector that can scale up its display to 25 times larger than a 60-inch TV screen
- Hisense – VIDAA Max 100″ Laser Cinema TV, features a blue laser diode light source offering 25,000 hours of viewing with no degradation of brightness or color
- LifeQ – Uses continuous physiological monitoring and bio-mathematical modeling, to provide insights about personal and population-wide health
- Keyfree – Digital Key, uses phone as vehicle key to remotely start/unlock car.
- LG – LG G Flex 2 – 5.5″ P-OLED display with 20 percent greater durability that “heals” from backing scratches in 10 seconds; flexible curved OLED 77″ 4K
- Mobilehelp and Honeywell – Mobile Vitals, a small wearable device that provides long-term vitals monitoring; Seymour, unified platform to pull health data and secure communication between health provider and patient
- Monster – Superstar Backfloat speaker (wireless, Bluetooth, waterproof and floats on water); Soundstage (S1, S2, S3 models), include USB ports, stereo input, Bluetooth, and streamed directly from your device
- Panasonic – First native 4K Blue-ray player; and Panasonic Home Monitoring System KX-HN6002W, DIY remote home monitoring system, features smart plug, window/door sensors, indoor/outdoor cameras and cordless handset
- Qualcomm – Collaboration with LIFX to deliver Wi-fi based smart lighting platform with AllJoyn – Licensable technology to turn any lightbulb into a smart lightbulb
- Sharp – AQUOS Crystal, a frameless smartphone; the first spec’d 85″ 8K LCD; the world’s largest 4K Ultra HD LCD commercial display; and free form LCD display, allowing displays of virtually any shape to be integrated into consumer products
- Sony – Play Station Vue; : α7 II, 5-axis image stabilization, the world’s first in a full-frame camera; 4K Handycam (20.6 megapixels); X900C Series 4K ultra HD TV, world’s thinnest (1.2 inches) LCD TV
- TCL – TV+, the H9700, is a Quantum Dot TV which includes apps, gaming and voice control in the TV without any accessories.
- Valeo – Cruse 4U, automated driving technology that can automatically accelerate, decelerate and stay in lane according to traffic conditions
- Volkswagen – Golf R Touch Concept Car, incorporates gesture control to reduce driver distractions while attaining personalization and intuitive operation in the car; Trained parking, future Park Assist drives into garage semi-automatically
- ZTE – ThesPro 2, a smart HD projector with Wi-Fi capability, 200 lumens, auto-focus, anti-glare, touch screen controlled with video conferencing via Skype
