Only last year some were saying that International CES, the hardware industry conference that’s over 50 years old, was out of touch. Pandodaily’s Paul Carr commented on the “hellscape that is CES”, whilst the widespread disinterest in the event wasn’t aided by the fact that big names like Microsoft didn’t make an appearance. However, with hardware once again at the forefront of the new technology landscape, is CES ready for a revival?
Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) ® has just opened registration for its 2014 edition of the event, which runs from 7 – 10 January 2014 in Las Vegas. French start-ups attended last year with appearances from both newcomers such as Aedle and DxO Labs, and well-known brands like Withings & Parrot. CES 2013 included innovation in consumer hardware such as Slow Control’s HAPIfork – a fork designed to monitor healthy eating by tracking the speed at which you eat.
This kind of unique (albeit somewhat pricey) invention which positions itself outside of the square of typical tech hardware trends, is arguably what makes CES a diverse place for start-ups; giving them an arena in which to experiment and test new ideas. For the 2014 edition, it is thought that mobile gaming will be a main feature of the show, with reported revenues increasing at triple-digit rates in 2011 and 2012. Given the rapid speed at which new and more innovative features are being added to smartphones, it will be interesting to see how competitors are faring in the fight to be at the forefront of mobile technology.
Aside from the main event in January 2014, CES Unveiled Paris will launch on October 3d of this year. Attendees will be able to check out the latest in product launches to hit the French market with a tabletop product exhibition, a networking event and “region-specific market research” from CEA’s market research team.