AI interview with Gary Shapiro, president and CEO of the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA),

With the Consumer Electronics Association’s or CEA(CEA)® flagship event, the 2011 International CES®tradeshow International CES® 2011 just sixa few months away, the call for speakers has been made by the association. The 2011 International CES® 2011 will be held from January 6th to the 9th, 2011, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Billed as the world’s largest consumer technology tradeshow, the 2011 event is expected to draw more than 120,000 visitors. The 2010 International CES® attracted over 126,000 attendees. 

The 2011 International CES® will have more than 300 conference sessions and 900 speakers. Professionals in the content, home theater, in-vehicle and wireless industries will be on hand, accompanied by corporate buyers and retailers, media, analysts and venture capitalists and consumer technology manufacturers from 130 countries. 

The 2011 CES conference program will cover industry topics ranging fromSome of the topics at next year’s event include 2011: Year of the Connected Home?, 3DTV Report Card: Next Frontier in Home Entertainment?, 4G Technology: What You Need to Know, A Computer on Wheels: Meet the Electric Car, Apps, Apps Everywhere, From Smart Phones to Smart Homes, From Touch Screens to Mind Control: The Future of User Interfaces, Handheld Wars: Winners and Losers, In-Vehicle Tech: Finding the Opportunities and Predicting the Next iPod. 

Speakers at the 2010 International CES® included Alan Mulally, Ford President and CEO who gave the opening keynote address. Mulally gave an overview of Ford’s 2009 success with Sync as an example of how smart technology integration allows Ford to better serve its customers. Mulally announced the ‘myFord Touch’, a new in-dash customizable interface, which helps consumers better access content and control features seamlessly, minimizing driver distraction. Ford also announced exciting partnerships with leading CE industry companies that, Mulally described as being able to ‘allow us to increase connectivity, while decreasing driver distraction.’ Ford had earlier shared the Sync SDK platform with Pandora, Stitcher.com and Twitter and developed apps for the new ‘myFord Touch’ interface. Based on that success, Ford opened its platform to additional third party app developers for future connected innovation.

At the 2010 International CES®, major in-vehicle electronics companies which exhibited included AT&T CruiseCast by RaySat Broadcasting Corp, Directed Electronics, Dual Electronics Corporation, InstallerNet Inc., Kenwood USA, Kia Motors, Metra, Mitek, Pioneer and Scosche. CEA’s Automotive Electronics Division offers consumers as well as automotive manufacturers information and insights into the latest state-of-the-art OEM solutions. Its mandate includes the promotion of the interoperability of consumer electronics products in automobiles, ensuring the safe use of mobile equipment in vehicles plus it proactively monitors legislation that affects the mobile electronics industry

“Automakers understand that their customers seek to enhance their driving experience with a wide range of aftermarket electronics, which enhance many of the OE products that car companies install in their vehicles. The full automotive supply chain – from car manufacturers to OE suppliers to aftermarket manufacturers to installers – attend and do business at CES to maximize opportunities in 2010,” said Gary Shapiro, president and CEO of the CEA in an earlier interview to AI.

Major innovations will be shown throughout the 2011 CES, with new areas on the show floor including the Broadband Communications TechZone, featuring The CEA is introducing some major innovations at the International CES® 2011. Such as the Telecom Pavilion which will feature a dedicated exhibition area in the Las Vegas Convention Center for manufacturers of advanced broadband equipment and related products and services. The eventThe 2011 CES will also have afeature the new Connected Home Appliances TechZone which will beTechZone, sponsored by the CEA, the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers or AHAM and The Retail Observer magazine. This area will feature 10,000 square feet of exhibit space in the South Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center for manufacturers of next-generation appliances, featuring major manufacturers including General Electric, Kenmore and Bissell. 

AI interview with Gary Shapiro, president and CEO of the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA),

AI: What in-vehicle technologies will be on display at the 2011 International CES®?

In-vehicle technology will be a major product category at the 2011 International CES, highlighting the latest innovations that will make cars safer and smarter on the road.

New to the 2011 CES show floor will be the Electric Vehicle TechZone, showcasing a full range of high- and low- speed vehicles, energy storage devices and charging equipment. A recent study conducted by CEA, found that 40 percent of consumers are likely to test drive an electric vehicle, making this a growing market in the auto industry. Major exhibitors, including Audi, will feature their latest electric vehicle innovations in this new CES TechZone.

The Safe Driver TechZone will return to the CES show floor for the 2011 show. With the increasing public focus on distracted driving, this TechZone is an amazing opportunity to see new technologies that empower drivers to use their in-vehicle electronics in a safe and responsible way. Located in the North Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center, this CES TechZone will feature products that will assist in auto collision avoidance, land drift assistance, parking, speed monitoring, hands-free, text-to-voice, driver drowsiness detection and much more.

Additionally, three major in-vehicle trends that will be prevalent at the 2011 CES include:

Internet connectivity to the car: This will be a major trend for 2011, whether for entertainment, communication or safety. This is a central technology feature that will enable a myriad of options in the car. Ford Sync, which will be on the 2011 CES show floor in Ford vehicles, provides a great example of the kinds of new possibilities connectivity will bring to the automotive industry. 

Voice recognition: Voice recognition is a growing automotive trend in the command and control of car functions and communications, such as hands-free technology. Attendees at the 2011 CES can expect to see an increase in voice recognition technologies on the show floor. 

Vehicle Apps: Attendees at the 2011 CES will see vehicle-centric apps that offer feedback to the driver focused on safety, and other topics including how to save fuel and drive more ‘green.’ Other vehicle-centric apps will perform diagnostics, measure performance and other car-related metrics.

AI: Why is the 2011 CES® a preferred destination for automotive OEs, Tier 1 and Tier 2 purchasing professionals?

The International CES is about doing business. As owner and producer of CES, our goal is for CES attendees and exhibitors to connect and make new business deals at the show. In fact, more than 20,000 buyers conduct in-person meetings while at CES – the most of any technology trade event in the world. 

Automotive manufacturers understand that their customers seek to enhance their driving experience with a wide range of aftermarket electronics, which enhance many of the OE products that car companies install in their vehicles. The full automotive supply chain – from car manufacturers to OE suppliers to aftermarket manufacturers to installers – will attend and do business at CES to maximize opportunities in 2011.
The 2011 CES will feature 2,500 companies debuting their latest innovations and will host more than 120,000 global industry professionals. The International CES show floor is the largest display of technology products and services in the world, and the innovations featured at CES shape the future and direction of the consumer technology industry.

AI: How popular was the inaugural iLounge Pavilion at the 2010 CES and what new events will this pavilion host at the 2011 CES®? 

The inaugural iLounge Pavilion at the 2010 CES was a tremendous success and a major destination on the show floor for the more than 120,000 individuals who attended the show. We received such positive response from exhibitors that we have significantly increased the footprint of the iLounge Pavilion at the 2011 CES, making it the largest display of its kind in CES show history. 

The iLounge Pavilion at the 2010 CES featured more than 100 companies across 25,000 net square feet of exhibit space. Based on customer demand, sales for the iLounge Pavilion at the 2011 CES have already surpassed more than 40,000 net square feet and the 2011 exhibit space will feature leading companies including Incipio Technologies, iSkin, Mophie and Scosche. New products that enhance Apple’s iPad will join iPod, iPhone and Mac accessories offerings in the Pavilion giving attendees an unparalleled opportunity to preview the year’s most exciting new Apple-related technologies, all in one place. 

AI: What’s new in automotive vehicle electronics and multimedia systems?

Connectivity will be a major theme for in-vehicle technologies in 2011, for both vehicle OEMs and the aftermarket. Telematics will enable a host of vehicle-centric services such as diagnostics and safety features including crash alerts. However, in 2011, consumer-centric apps will gain importance, providing location-based services and custom-apps, including those for information and entertainment. 

AI: Tell us a little about the latest innovations and product developments i.e the iPhone, smart phone technologies and applications.

2010 has been an incredible year for consumer technology and has launched a new decade of technology innovation. 3DTV has taken the world by storm and was a major theme at the 2010 CES. Additionally, Android products have changed the Smartphone market, providing more options for consumers, and tablets, eReaders and Smartbooks have begun to soar in popularity. As we look forward to 2011, we can expect to see more advancements in these technology products and services that will provide consumers with more choices and add entertainment and convenience to the user.

AI: As far as new technologies are concerned, what impact and market implications for the next generation of electronic products for vehicle manufacturers and suppliers will they have?

The consumer technology and automotive markets have become intertwined, as new products come on the market that improve the driving experience and add safety features to the car. The entire automotive supply chain will be present at the 2011 CES, from automakers to OE suppliers to installers, and as new technologies are introduced to the marketplace, the relationship between the consumer technology and automotive markets will continue to grow.

AI: Can you tell us who some of the major speakers at the 2011 International CES will be?

The 2011 CES will feature a dynamic lineup of keynote speakers, including Microsoft’s Steve Ballmer, Verizon’s Ivan Seidenberg and Samsung’s Boo-Keun Yoon. More speaker announcements will be made this fall and readers should visit CESweb.org for the latest news and CES announcements.