Products and Services
2012 Consumer Electronics Show Largest Ever
By Matt Alderton
January 13, 2012
The 2012 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES), which concludes today in Las Vegas, is the largest in the show's 44-year history, the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) confirmed yesterday.
According to the association, this year's show — the world's largest consumer technology trade show, attended by the likes of Justin Timberlake, Will Smith, Justin Bieber, Kelly Clarkson and Jillian Michaels, among others — totaled more than 3,100 exhibiting companies and approximately 1.861 million net square feet of exhibit space, which is enough to cover more than 37 football fields. By comparison, the 2011 show featured 2,865 exhibitors across 1.65 million net square feet. The show's previous record — 1.857 million net square feet of exhibit space — was set in 2008.
Although attendance figures have not yet been announced, last year's show welcomed 149,529 technology attendees.
"With more than 3,100 companies showcasing more than 20,000 new products, the 2012 International CES is the world's largest hub for consumer technology innovation," CEA President and CEO Gary Shapiro said on Jan. 10, the show's opening day. "The pre-show media events, which drew record numbers, created tremendous buzz as the world awaits the next generation of technology that is launching here at CES this week. From ultrabooks to digital health products to connected TVs, the innovation at the 2012 CES will be nothing short of amazing, as attendees witness ground-breaking products spanning one of the largest show floors in CES history."
This year's CES hasn't just been the largest show in the history of the event. It's also been the most innovative, according to its organizer. Among the products introduced on the show floor this week:
• TV manufacturer Vizio introduced a line-up of laptops and desktops, including two Ultrabooks (ultra-thin laptop computers).
• Nokia debuted the Lumia 900 smartphone, a Windows Phone with LTE support, to be sold at AT&T this spring.
• Lenovo entered the television market by unveiling the K91Smart TV running Google's Android 4.0.
• LG Electronics announced a variety of LED-based TVs with bezels under 5mm in width for a nearly all-picture look, as well as a 55-inch OLED TV.
• Specialty glass producer Corning introduced Gorilla Glass 2, a harder, thinner and more scratch-resistant glass that could pave the way for the production of thinner and sturdier tablets and smartphones.
• Intel launched a slew of affordable Ultrabooks in partnership with HP, Asus, LG and others.
• Tobii Technology showed new eye-tracking technology that allows users to scroll, play and navigate using their eyes — without touching a mouse.
• SolarFocus' showcased its Kindle e-reader case, which provides 50 hours of onboard reading light powered by a solar panel on the front of the case.
• 3M Touch Systems displayed a multi-user, widescreen touch table that allows for a maximum 60 touch points and up to four split screens.
"The cause of innovation is closely linked to the most important issue of our day — the health of the global economy," Shapiro said in his annual "State of the CE Industry" address. "We can't escape the news that many countries face tough economic times from government over-spending. These nations have three options for recovery: raise taxes, cut spending or grow the economy. Of these three, growth is the best path. Growth is the quest and it comes only from innovation."
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