CES Consumer Electronics Show Quick Start Guide

On January 5, I land in Las Vegas to cover the 2011 Consumer Electronics Show. I’m so excited to share my CES 2011 adventures with my readers!!!

To orient you to the show’s major themes and events, here’s a quick start guide with conference content from the CES site.

Thanks for sharing your CES tips, questions or thoughts in the comment box. What themes or topics most interest you most?

2011 Consumer Electronics Show Quick Start Guide

1. Select your CES conference tracks

With over 300 presentations scheduled this year, you can organize your experience along conference tracks.

2011 Consumer Electronics Show Conference Tracks, Location, Sponsor
Broadband Unlimited LVCC, North Hall Team Lightbulb
Cable Conference at CES LVCC, North Hall Digital Hollywood
CEA Research Summit at International CES LVCC, North Hall Consumer Electronics Association (CEA)
CES Government 2011 Mandalay Bay Resort
CONNECTIONS Summit at CES LVCC, South Hall Parks Associates
Content in the Cloud LVCC, North Hall Distributed Computing Industry Association (DCIA)
Digital Health Summit LVCC, North Hall Living in Digital Times
Digital Hollywood LVCC, North Hall Digital Hollywood
Emerging Technology LVCC, North Hall International CES
Flash Forward: Flash Memory Storage Solutions for Mobile Devices and Data-Hungry Applications LVCC, South Hall JEDEC
HigherEd Tech Summit LVCC, North Hall Living in Digital Times
Home Entertainment and Lifestyle Technologies LVCC, North and South Halls International CES
IEEE: International Conference on Consumer Electronics (ICCE) LVCC, North Hall IEEE, ICCE, CE Society
In-Vehicle Technology LVCC, North Hall International CES
Issues and Attitudes LVCC, North and South Halls International CES
Just the Facts: Research, Reports and Revelation LVCC, North Hall Consumer Electronics Association (CEA)
Kids@Play and MommyTech LVCC, North Hall Living in Digital Times
Media Money Makers LVCC, North Hall International CES and The Nielsen Co.
Silvers Summit LVCC, North Hall Living in Digital Times
Smart Grid Homes LVCC, North Hall Clasma Events Inc.
Smartphone and Tablet Conference LVCC, North Hall Digital Hollywood
Sports and Fitness Tech LVCC, North Hall Living in Digital Times
Storage Visions 2011 Riviera Hotel Storage Visions
Tech Policy Summit LVCC, North Hall Tech Policy Summit
Technology and The Environment LVCC, North and South Halls
International CES The Tweet House Presents: Social Media Success Stories LVCC, North Hall Parnassus Group
THX Education Program: Home Theater and THX – Home Theater 1 LVCC, South Hall THX
Wireless Communications LVCC, North and South Halls International CES

2. Decide on CES Super Sessions

All free, the super sessions mix panels, moderators and dialogue. Check out who’s speaking. Find someone interesting? Look them up and connect on LinkedIn. Or, follow the company on LinkedIn.

Hollywood Creative Masters: A Media Money Makers SuperSession, Produced by Variety
10-11 a.m. Thursday, January 6, LVCC, North Hall, N255-257
Top content creators will discuss how digital media has impacted their work, including new opportunities open to them through social networking, transmedia, and mobile platforms. Although today’s consumer is splintered across platforms, these creators are managing to build powerful fan bases for their TV shows and movies.

Moderator: Chris Morris, Reporter, Variety
Panelists: Gale Anne Hurd, Executive Producer of The Walking Dead and Producer of The Incredible Hulk; Tim Kring, Master Storyteller, Executive Producer of Heroes and Tim Kring’s Conspiracy For Good; Tom McGrath, Director of Megamind; Jeff Ross, Executive Producer of Conan; Conrad Green, executive producer of Dancing with the Stars

Got Game? The State of the Games Industry: View from the Top
Noon–1 p.m. Thursday, January 6, LVCC, North Hall, N255-257
The worldwide video game industry is poised to reach $70.1 billion by 2015 according to DFC Intelligence, through the combined growth of console, portable, PC, and online video games. Industry leaders discuss the current state of the industry as the business continues its transition towards a digital future. What exciting trends and developments are leading the way?

Moderator: Mike Vorhaus, President, Magid Advisors
Panelists: Eric Anderson, VP Content and Product Solutions, Samsung Electronics America; Gene Hoffman, CEO, Vindicia; Chris Petrovic, General Manager, Digital Media, GameStop; Timo Soininen, CEO, Habbo Hotel/Sulake; Bill Young, Managing Director, EA Ready, Electronic Arts

CNET’s Next Big Thing: After the Computer
3-4 p.m. Thursday, January 6, LVCC, North Hall, N255-257
After a 25 year reign, the era of the personal computer is ending. Tablets, Smartphones and connected home entertainment are the future — and we’ll take you there in this dynamic session. For 8 years, CNET has revealed the Next Big Thing to a standing room only crowd at CES. This year, join Brian Cooley, Molly Wood and other industry luminaries to discuss the most dramatic industry transition yet.

Moderators: Brian Cooley, Editor at Large, CNET and Molly Wood, Executive Editor CNET
Panelists: Drew Bamford, Director of User Experience, HTC Nick DiCarlo, VP, Product Planning, Samsung Telecommunications America Evan Hansen, Editor-in-chief, Wired.com Robert Kyncl, VP of TV and Film, YouTube Zander Lurie, Senior Vice President of Strategic Development , CBS Lindsay Notwell, Executive Director, 4G LTE Strategy & Planning, Verizon David Pogue, Technology Columnist, New York Times Joshua Topolsky, Editor-In-Chief, Engadget Anthony Wood, CEO and Founder, Roku

Big Thinkers and Disruptive Technologies – Today’s Thought Leaders, Tomorrow’s Technologies
10-11 a.m. Friday, January 7, LVCC, North Hall, N255-257
Disruptive technologies often drive the industry. Back by popular demand, this SuperSession brings together big thinkers from CE, computers, media and telecommunications to discuss upcoming innovations and their impact on our digital lives. CES is a powerful venue for launching innovative products and technologies and an acknowledged forum for thought leadership. See it comes to life in this thought-provoking session.

Moderator: Tim Bajarin, President, Creative Strategies Inc.
Panelists: Mel Coker, Director of Mobile Strategy, AT&T; Ted Theocheung, Vice President of PC & Digital Home Division, Synaptics; Dr. Levy Gerzberg, CEO, Zoran; Joshua Greer, President and Co-Founder, Real D and Mike Rayfield, General Manager, Mobile Business Unit, NVIDIA

One-on-One With FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski
1:30-2:30 p.m. Friday, January 7, LVCC, North Hall, N255-257
Join FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski and CEA President and CEO Gary Shapiro for a candid conversation about Chairman Genachowski’s ongoing efforts to bring meaningful change to the agency and his vision for the FCC. They will discuss developments in broadband, spectrum reform, competition policy and other issues impacting the consumer electronics industry.

Consumer 360 – Gadgets Everywhere and the Role of Wireless
3-4 p.m. Friday, January 7, LVCC, North Hall, N255-257
To win in electronics, a 360-degree view of the consumer – across devices, service, and environments – is criticlal. The number of screens is proliferating. The digital/physical intersection is opening. And connectivity to all devices is starting. What will define success for users and industry players in a new consumer 360 world?

Moderator: Rajeev Chand, Managing Director and Head of Research, Rutberg & Company, LLC
Panelists: Anand Chandrasekher, SVP and GM, Ultra Mobility Group, Intel; John Donovan, Chief Technology Officer, AT&T; Bill Ogle, Chief Marketing Officer, Motorola Mobility
Robert Stephens, Chief Technology Officer, Best Buy; Founder, The Geek Squad

3. Note CES Keynotes

You don’t have to have a ticket to watch the CES Keynotes. Check back to see which sites will be broadcasting live.

Steve Ballmer, Microsoft CEO
Wednesday, January 5, 2011 at 6:30 p.m. Las Vegas Hilton Center
Microsoft Chief Executive Officer Steve Ballmer will kick off the 2011 International CES with a preshow keynote address at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, January 5, in the Las Vegas Hilton Center. In previous years, Microsoft has used the CES keynote stage to launch major products including Xbox, Windows Vista and its Sync technology partnership with Ford.

State of the CE Industry Keynote Address and Opening Keynote with CEA President and CEO, Gary Shapiro and Verizon CEO, Ivan Seidenberg
Thursday, January 6, 2011 at 8:30 a.m., Las Vegas Hilton Center
Ivan Seidenberg, chairman of the board and chief executive officer of Verizon, has led Verizon since its inception in 2000 following the merger of Bell Atlantic and GTE. He has transformed the company into a premier global network company by building a nationwide wireless network, deploying high-speed fiber broadband direct to homes, and expanding its global Internet backbone network around the world. Verizon’s leadership in network innovation has earned the company numerous awards, including Fortune’s 2010 “World’s Most Admired Companies” list at No.1 in the telecommunications sector. Seidenberg will deliver his CES keynote address following a State of the CE Industry keynote address delivered by Gary Shapiro, president and CEO, CEA.

Rupert Stadler, AUDI AG Chairman of the Board of Management
Thursday, January 6, 2011 at 11 a.m., Las Vegas Hilton Theater
Rupert Stadler, chairman of the board of management of AUDI AG, will deliver a keynote address at the 2011 International CES, at 11 a.m., Thursday, January 6, in the Las Vegas Hilton Theater. The 2011 show marks Audi’s first International CES keynote address.

Boo-Keun Yoon, Samsung President and General Manager of Visual Display Business
Thursday, January 6, 2011 at 4:30 p.m., Las Vegas Hilton Center
As President of Samsung’s Visual Display Business, Boo-Keun Yoon oversees all activities surrounding a broad portfolio of devices, including TVs, monitors, Blu-ray players and other connected consumer digital products. Under his leadership, the division has maintained its No.1 status in terms of global market share for TVs, monitors and Blu-ray players. In addition, he has successfully led several efforts to commercialize market-leading innovations such as Samsung’s LED TV in 2009 and, most recently, the company’s total 3D entertainment solution – a full product suite consisting of TVs, Blu-ray home theater systems and glasses that make it possible for consumers to enjoy 3D content in the comfort of their homes.

Innovation Power Panel
Friday, January 7, 2011 at 9 a.m., Las Vegas Hilton Theater
Cisco CEO John Chambers, GE Chairman and CEO Jeffrey Immelt and Xerox Chairman and CEO Ursula Burns join the 2011 International CES keynote line up as participants in the Innovation Power Panel, a first-of-its kind CES keynote panel that brings together three dynamic executives who are global leaders at the forefront of innovation. The CEOs of these three Fortune 500 companies will speak at this CES keynote panel to provide insight on how innovation is core to their respective success — helping them each emerge as global leaders in their fields.

Alan Mulally, Ford Motor Company President and CEO
Friday, January 7, 2011 at 11 a.m., Las Vegas Hilton Center
Alan Mulally has been instrumental in Ford’s leadership in the automotive industry and its success in a challenging economy. Ford constantly innovates and launches new technologies, like SYNC with speech recognition, that make the driving experience safer through technology.

CES 2011 Entertainment Matters Keynote Panel
Friday, January 7, 2011 at Noon, Las Vegas Hilton Theater
Akamai’s David Kenny, The Coca-Cola Company’s Joseph V. Tripodi, Interpublic Group’s (IPG) Michael Roth, Microsoft’s Mich Mathews and WPP’s Sir Martin Sorrell will join the 2011 International CES keynote lineup as participants in the Entertainment Matters keynote panel. The Entertainment Matters keynote panel will be moderated by Michael Kassan, chairman and CEO of MediaLink LLC.

4. Check CES TechZones

CES TechZones group new technology markets together and feature up-and-coming products, services and companies into over 20 themed areas.

3D@Home features next-gen innovators who make 3D a reality in the home, including content creators, service providers and TV manufacturers.
LVCC, South Hall 2
Sponsor(s): 3D@Home Consortium

Access on the Go showcases the most innovative devices relating to eBooks, netbooks, smartbooks and tablets.
LVCC, South Hall 4
Sponsor(s): International Digital Publishing Forum (IDPF)

Broadband Communications highlights the role of the underlying infrastructure, both wireless and wireline, that makes these services possible.
LVCC, South Hall 4
Sponsor(s): Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA)

Connected Home Appliances features home appliances for the first time at CES, is a unique opportunity to experience advanced home appliance technologies and see how they will be integrated into tomorrow’s home.

LVCC, South Hall 2
Sponsor(s): Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers and The Retail Observer

Digital Health Summit focuses on the emerging market of consumer-based digital health and wellness devices, related applications and services,
LVCC, North Hall
Sponsor(s): Living in Digital Times

EHX@CES is the destination for custom electronics integrators within CES
LVCC, South Hall 1
Sponsor(s): CE Pro Magazine

Electric Vehicle features a full range of high and low speed vehicles, energy storage devices, and charging equipment.
LVCC, North Hall
Sponsor(s): National Electrical Manufacturing Association (NEMA)

Experience CEA highlights CEA’s Innovation Movement, a coalition of more than 100,000 Americans who believe innovation is the key to reviving the global economy and creating new American jobs.
LVCC, Grand Lobby and LVCC, South Hall 1

Gaming Showcase, at over 12,000 square feet, the largest Gaming Showcase in CES history
LVCC, North Hall

HDMI High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) is the acknowledged world standard for connecting consumer electronics products and devices
LVCC, South Hall 1
Sponsor(s): HDMI Licensing, LLC

Higher Ed Tech offers the opportunity to survey the latest trends, products, and services for today’s students and for the institutions that serve them.
LVCC, North Hall
Sponsor(s): Living in Digital Times

HomePlug products and technology use the electrical wires in homes to distribute broadband Internet, HD video, digital music and smart energy applications
LVCC, South Hall 1
Sponsor(s): HomePlug Powerline Alliance, Inc.

iLounge Pavilion features the latest third-party accessories and software for Apple’s iPod, iPhone, iPad and Macintosh platforms
LVCC, North Hall
Sponsor(s): iLounge.com

Innovations Design and Engineering Awards Showcase
LVCC, Grand Lobby
Sponsor(s): PCWorld Communications
The Innovations 2011 Design and Engineering Awards, sponsored by PCWorld Communications, acknowledge the year’s most outstanding developments in engineering and design in consumer electronics, and you can see it all at the Innovations 2011 Design and Engineering Awards Showcase.

International Gateway features more than 800 exhibitors showcasing the latest innovative technologies and products from around the world
Las Vegas Hilton and LVCC, North Hall

i-stage contenders represent gaming, social media, mobile retail, security, telecommunications and 3D video development advances
LVCC, North Hall

Kids@Play explores the way being digital today creates a smarter world tomorrow
LVCC, North Hall
Sponsor(s): Living in Digital Times

Location Based Services features custom technologies, services and advertising sent to portable and in-car navigation devices, based on their current locations.
LVCC, North Hall

Mobile DTV kicks off a new era of innovation in consumer devices and mobile TV programming
LVCC, Central Hall
Sponsor(s): Open Mobile VIdeo Coalition (OMVC)

Mommy Tech focuses exclusively on the newest innovations and tools of the trade, spotlighting key trends impacting the $90 billion dollar Mom market
LVCC, North Hall
Sponsor(s): Living in Digital Times

Robotics presents opportunities for companies and individuals to become active participants in a new technology industry, consumer robotics.
LVCC, South Hall 2
Sponsor(s): Robotics Trends

Safe Driver features products that will assist in auto collision avoidance, land drift assistance, parking, speed monitoring, hands-free, text-to-voice, driver drowsiness detection and more.
LVCC, North Hall
Sponsor(s):

Silvers Summit showcases the products and services that keep boomers engaged, entertained, connected and healthy
LVCC, North Hall
Sponsor(s): Living in Digital Times

Sports and Fitness Tech, a first time event, focuses innovations and tools for the sports enthusiast and spotlights key trends impacting the collective multi-billion dollar sports, fitness and outdoors markets.
LVCC, North Hall
Sponsor(s): Living in Digital Times

Sustainable Planet features products and services making it possible for every person on this planet to stay connected, informed and live sustainable lifestyles
LVCC, South Hall 2
Sponsor(s): Earth911

USB explores the impact of USB connectivity on small office/home offices, our PCs, printers, scanners, PDAs and digital cameras
LVCC, South Hall 4
Sponsor(s): USB-IF

Wireless Mobility hosts a mobile devices and applications exhibition that includes mobile enterprise, social networking, gamin, location/public safety and health and fitness
LVCC, South Hall 3
Sponsor(s): Qualcomm

ZigBee is the wireless connection used by sensors (security, rain gauges, lights) and control devices (thermostats, timers, remote controls) ideally suited for the home
LVCC, South Hall 1
Sponsor(s): The ZigBee Alliance

5. Map CES Floorplan

A collection of shows within a show, CES maps out the floorplan by areas of interest, including:
• Audio
• Automotive Electronics
• Computer Hardware & Software
• Connected Home
• Content Distribution
• Digital Health and Fitness
• Digital Imaging
• Electronic Gaming
• Emerging Technology
• Entertainment/Content
• Internet-Based Multimedia Services
• Lifestyle Electronics
• Telecomm/Infrastructure
• Video
• Wireless & Wireless Devices