| While no one knows exactly what new technology | | | | pictures from a digital camera to a computer. Beyond |
| will make jaws drop this year the way the iPhone did | | | | Gates' digital prophecy, other trends at the 2008 CES |
| last year, one place to get a good idea was at the | | | | point to a future filled with global positioning system |
| Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. | | | | (GPS) technology and, of course, more automated |
| Sponsored by the Consumer Electronics Association, | | | | products for everyday life. |
| the 41st annual CES was held at the Las Vegas | | | | Ideal for hunters and hikers, the SPOT Satellite |
| Convention Center and the Sands Expo and | | | | Messenger takes GPS to the next level by enabling |
| Convention Center. The show has become | | | | people to call for help from anywhere in the world |
| somewhat of a juggernaut in the electronics industry | | | | (even places where cell phones won't work - i.e., |
| - it's the largest tech trade show in the United | | | | deserts, mountains, the Arctic Circle). Tracking |
| States, with over 2,700 exhibitors and attendance of | | | | progress with Google Maps and sending basic |
| around 140,000 people. Many companies (large and | | | | messages are also available at the push of a button. |
| small) use the CES to preview new products, make | | | | For the wandering pet, there's the Zoombak |
| announcements and create buzz. In the past 40 | | | | Advanced GPS Dog Locator. The lightweight device |
| years, the show has seen the debut of the VCR | | | | attaches to a pet's collar and pinpoints the location of |
| (1970), CD player (1981), HDTV (1998), Xbox (2001) | | | | the animal on a full-sized Web map. Zoombak also |
| and Blu-Ray (2003). | | | | has a voice-based service that provides directions to |
| Along with more electronic inventions, gadgets and | | | | the GPS receiver's location. In addition to these |
| gizmos than you could fit into ten Best Buys (exhibit | | | | gadgets, Nav N Go has invented new 3D Navigation |
| space is 1.8 million net square feet), the 2008 | | | | Software, which brings GPS maps to |
| Consumer Electronics Show also offered appearances | | | | three-dimensional life. |
| by celebrities like Michael Douglas, David Ortiz and | | | | While GPS systems help people to find their way, |
| XENA: Warrior Princess. Technology guru Bill Gates | | | | automated cars may actually be taking them there. |
| kicked off the electronic extravaganza, delivering his | | | | GM announced at CES that the company plans to |
| final keynote address as chairman of Microsoft and | | | | test driverless car technology by 2015 and have cars |
| poking fun at his pending retirement in a video | | | | on the road around 2018. Of course, the company still |
| featuring guest spots by Al Gore, Jay-Z and Bono. In | | | | faces the difficult obstacle of convincing drivers to |
| his speech, he painted a picture of the dawning | | | | give up the wheel. Some other automated devices at |
| "second digital decade" as a time when high-definition | | | | the CES designed to make everyday living easier |
| displays will surround us, touch screens and speech | | | | included iRobot's LoojTM, a gutter cleaning robot that |
| recognition will replace traditional keyboard/mouse | | | | can scour a 60-foot section of gutter in just 10 |
| interfaces and every device we own will be | | | | minutes, and Interactive Toy Concepts' RC Cooler, a |
| connected to the Internet. | | | | radio-controlled, wheeled cooler than has a 30-foot |
| Judging by many of the new products and | | | | range and can hold a six pack on ice. |
| technologies on display at the CES, Gates' predictions | | | | Also of note at this year's CES was the increased |
| seem pretty accurate. Certainly the HDTV's were | | | | presence of "green" products. Cell phones chargers, |
| more prevalent than ever before. Panasonic awed | | | | TV sets and laptop computers designed to reduce |
| onlookers with its 150-inch Lifescreen Plasma TV, the | | | | energy consumption illustrated the industry's |
| largest in the world, while LG introduced super-slim | | | | contemporary focus on making electronic products |
| TVs only 1.7 inches thick. Meanwhile, Logitech worked | | | | more resource efficient. Even the CES itself invested |
| to bridge the media gap with its diNovo MiniTM, a | | | | in new initiatives this year to offset the carbon |
| cordless, palm-sized keypad that connects TV with | | | | footprint of the large event. |
| PC, and Eye-Fi won Yahoo's "Last Gadget Standing" | | | | Next year's Consumer Electronics Show is scheduled |
| contest for its memory card that wirelessly sends | | | | for January 8-11, 2009. |