I’m a big fan of keynote addresses at
any tradeshow I go to. But my favorite
ones by far are those of the International
CES. This show invariably draws the top
executives from consumer electronics
and other companies around the globe.
For example, Bill Gates of Microsoft provided
the preshow keynote speech at CES for
many years.
The keynotes give engineers the lay of the
land for consumer electronics for the rest of
the year and then some, which can greatly
help in their own strategic planning. For
example, in last year’s keynotes, attendees
got a vision of what the future might be like
with gadgets such as a handheld device that
translates your speech into a foreign language
in real time or a cell phone with camera recognition
that can provide information about
whatever you may be pointing at.
All of the keynote speeches will take place
in the Palazzo Ballroom of The Venetian. If
this will be your first time at CES, I recommend
taking the Sands/Venetian Express
from the LVCC to the Sands/Venetian and
follow the signs.
EXPERTS SPEAK OUT
CES has revamped the list of keynote
speakers this year, but has stuck with
Microsoft for the preshow keynote at 6:30
p.m. on Wednesday evening, January 7. This
is usually a big event and the seats are free,
but there is a limited amount so get there
early. Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer gets the
call this year, and I’m sure he will be joined
by quite a number of Microsoft spokespeople
plus a few media stars to help him make his
points about Microsoft’s vision of the consumer
electronics future.
The keynotes continue as the first order of
business when the show opens on Thursday,
January 8. Gary Shapiro, president and CEO
of the Consumer Electronics Association
(CEA)®, which produces CES, will kick off
the morning keynote at 8:30 a.m. with his
state of the industry address. This talk should
be especially interesting considering all the
turmoil in the financial markets this year.
How will the current economic climate affect
the consumer electronics industry in 2009?
How will the switch to digital television in
February 2009 affect the industry? Expect
him to have the answers to these questions
and more in his speech.
After his talk, Shapiro will introduce Sir
Howard Stringer, chairman and CEO of Sony
Corp. Sony, of course, is active in all facets
of consumer electronics, from its Vaio computers
to its Bravia HDTVs to its impressive
collection of Handycam video recorders and
Walkman video and music players. Stringer is
also corporate head of Sony’s Entertainment
Business, so don’t be surprised if he brings
up to the stage some big names in movies and
music to help liven up his keynote. It wasn’t
too many years ago that Drew Barrymore
made an appearance at a Sony CES keynote.
On tap for Thursday afternoon’s keynote at
4:30 p.m. is Alan Mulally, president and CEO
of Ford Motor Company. You probably know
that Ford has been a leader in automotive
infotainment along with its partner, Microsoft,
in bringing to market the voice-activated Ford
Sync mobile phone and digital music system.
I wouldn’t be surprised if New York Yankee
superstar shortstop and Ford spokesperson
Derek Jeter makes an appearance on stage.
THE GLOBAL ECONOMY
On Friday afternoon, January 9, starting
at 1 p.m., Intel chairman Craig Barrett and
Cisco chairman and CEO John Chambers will speak as part of the second annual
Technology and Emerging Countries Program
(TEC), which focuses on the role technology
plays to further economic growth. Barrett will
be the opening TEC keynote speaker. Expect
more about Intel Atom-based netbooks at this
keynote and how these low-priced computers
can be a game changer in emerging countries.
Barrett’s keynote will be followed at 2
p.m. by a TEC panel discussion entitled
“Reaching the Promise of Universal Access
to Technology: Creating the Global Tech
Ecosystem.” The thought here is that universal
access to technology is the catalyst
to greater knowledge, more vibrant marketplaces,
and growing standards of living.
When combined with finance, energy, and
expertise, technology is the component that
can accelerate economic development and
create opportunity.
At 3 p.m., Chambers will give the closing
TEC keynote. Last year’s CES was the
first time I witnessed a demonstration of the
Cisco telepresence system. Chambers may
show how this kind of technology can assist
in communication and education in emerging
countries.