We started off the 2015 International CES Show Monday night by attending a Keynote at the beautiful Cosmopolitan Chelsea Theater, delivered by Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Management Daimler AG, Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars. Dr. Zetsche unveiled new Mercedes-Benz automobiles, innovations and improvement they have made in the area of connected cars with an encore grand entrance by the actual “Piloted Driving” Mercedes-Benz that traveled with its passenger from San Francisco to Las Vegas on 100% auto-pilot just for the 2015 CES Show. Mercedes-Benz impressed the audience as it displayed their significant investment and progress also viewing the automobile as the world’s largest connected mobile device. The “Connected Car” continued to be a theme and top trend during the next few days of the CES Show.
The 2015 International CES turned out to be the largest show in the event’s history, with more than 3,600 exhibitors and 170,000 industry professionals. From startups to Fortune 500 companies, innovations included the latest technologies across verticals such as automotive electronics, personalized health care solutions, unmanned vehicles, 1,000’s of connected devices, 3D printers and gaming. With over 2,000,000 square feet of exhibit space, informative keynotes and meetings with some of our clients, it is impossible to capture everything at CES.
Over the next few days, we spent our time split between meetings with several CRM, BPO and Consulting clients in the consumer electronics, social media, e-commerce, telecommunications and technology industries; and, by taking in as many of the Exhibitors as possible spread across the Las Vegas Convention Center, Sands Exhibition and Expo and Venetian Hotel. Tuesday night we attended the incredible Google event at the Mandarin Oriental.
After covering the entire exhibit hall floor, it is clearly evident that wearable technology, connected cars and bigger, better and smarter televisions continue to gain steam. The smart watches by LG, Casio, including the G-Shock model by Casio, were unbelievable. This was the first time we actually saw smart watches that were cool and fashionable and not obviously just tech a wearable. Aside from bigger and better TV’s, we are talking Curved TV’s and 4K! Many fashion brands are getting more creative as they push their products into the technology mainstream, technology in the home (further connecting the home) is being driven down the washing machine, dryer and anything you can think of in the house. Mobile devices, including phones and tablets, 3-D printers, robotics and connected toys continue to hold more power. And, in particular, with the capabilities and affordability of flying drones, you may want to look over your shoulder to make sure no one is following your movements via drone.
As for celebrity encounters, we had the opportunity to meet Shaquille O’Neal and walk with him over to his interview at the Samsung Exhibit. However, nothing topped spending some real time with Katie Couric, currently Yahoo Global News Anchor. Although not an “official interview”, she was wonderful to speak with. Her sincere interest and curiosity about what I do, our company Golden Gate BPO Solutions, and our connection to CES certainly left my head a tad bit swelled. Check out Katie Couric’s 3-minute video talking about the 2015 CES Show, its history and how the event has evolved over the years:
by: Stephen Ferber
