REPORT ON THE 2004 CONSUMER
ELECTRONICS SHOW IN LAS VEGAS
Mike Yang and I attended the 2004 Consumer Electronics
Show (CES) in Las Vegas from January 7 through January 11, 2004. Our attendance
at this show has become an annual event because keeping abreast of the latest
technology developments enhances our abilities in the intellectual property
law practice.
This report covers four (4) topics: new technologies, new
electronic products, new applications and trends, and the "best bag" given
out by an exhibitor at the 2004 CES.
There was an emphasis this year on integration: integration
of consumer electronics technology in the home, in the car, on your pda,
on your wrist, etc. Companies traditionally known for their computers
are getting into the consumer electronics arena by introducing flat panel
televisions and other devices traditionally reserved for home audio/video
manufacturers. On the other hand, companies traditionally known for
their home electronic devices are getting into developing devices that contain
sophisticated computer and microprocessor driven equipment. The lines
are blurring.
The 2004 CES did not introduce a large number of entirely
truly new technologies. Nevertheless, there were several new technological
developments, improvements, and refinements that caught our eye. In
the area of content and media delivery, there were more developments in
the struggle to deliver ever more data. One such development is ultrawideband
(UWB) wireless technology which is significantly faster than Wi-Fi (i.e.,
802.11a), allowing it to carry significantly more data. Another such
development is the Blue-ray Disk format. Using blue-violet laser and
other advances, Blue-ray Discs are able to greatly exceed the capacity of
a DVD (digital versatile disc). For instance, a single layer Blue-ray
Disc exceeds the combined capacity of five DVDs and a dual layer Blue-ray
Disc has enough capacity for a 3-hour high definition movie. Both
UWB and Blue-ray Discs allow delivery of significantly more data, thus providing
the ability to deliver high definition content.
While flat panel displays have been ubiquitous
for the past two or three years, this year's CES truly established the dominance
of the flat screen, whether for computer monitors or for televisions.
There are three principal technologies currently being used in flat screen
displays – plasma displays, digital light projection (DLP) displays, and
liquid crystal displays (LCD). The market has not yet decided which
of these technologies will dominate, but it is clear that the flat screen
will rapidly make tube monitors and tube television screens obsolete.
The digital media market, particularly for music players,
is booming. The number of devices, ranging from standalone digital
music players and disc players to integrated solutions incorporating pdas,
cameras, and phones, is astounding. New devices which take advantage
of high capacity, miniaturized hard drive media are also being introduced
which not only allow the storage of audio, but which also incorporate display
panels to allow the playback of audio and video. Over the years, as
storage capacities have rapidly grown and as the size of storage devices
(e.g., flash memory and hard drive based storage) has shrunk, we have seen
more and more devices allow the storage and playback of various forms of
media. This is a trend that will be sure to continue.
There were a number of products incorporating biometrics
for security and access purposes, making such security methods more available
to consumers. One such device is the Sony "Puppy" which retails for
about $150. The Puppy is a small hand-held device that is designed
to receive the fingerprint off your thumb and to recognize your print, thereby
giving you access to the data on your electronic product, whether it's computer
or something else. The Puppy connects with a USB port and can be programmed
to recognize more than one fingerprint. Another such device is the
LG IrisAccess 3000 iris recognition system. Currently in limited use
in facilities requiring individualized access and security such as hospitals,
the IrisAccess system allows users to be identified simply by looking into
a small, mirror-like device mounted on a wall. Because every person’s
iris is unique, such a system allows for instant identification without
requiring physical security devices such as access cards, keys, etc.
Two developing trends were made more apparent
from this year's CES. First, Microsoft and the personal computer have
come to your home media center (the place where your TV and music are), typically
the living room. Microsoft's Windows XP Media Center Edition 2004 software
is designed to integrate all digital entertainment and content so that it
can be easily exchanged and displayed on a plasma screen and/or your home
computer. Traditional PC manufacturers, such as Dell and Gateway, are
offering these integrated flat screens to the consumer entertainment market.
Another trend from Microsoft is "Windows Embedded."
Under this program, Microsoft offers its software research and development
expertise to electronic device manufacturers who might not have the resources
to keep as abreast of software developments as does Microsoft. This program
offers manufacturers Microsoft's expertise in developing and designing the
software (Windows-based software) to run on a manufacturer's consumer device.
Microsoft offers technical seminars for OEMs who wish to partner with Microsoft
using the Windows Embedded program.
As perhaps the most dominant consumer technology company
in the world, Microsoft was also displaying technology which would extend
the reach of their Windows and MSN services outside of the PC. The Microsoft
Smart Personal Object Technology (SPOT) watches utilize FM radio technology
to deliver information from the MSN Direct service to a user’s SPOT wrist
watch. That information may be customized to deliver a personalized
user experience. Microsoft was also displaying a plethora of devices
which utilize its various Windows and Media software, everything ranging from
digital music (e.g., mp3) players, pdas and handhelds, and even a Hummer H2
equipped with the latest Microsoft software. Through Media Center, the
Xbox, Smart Watches, and other devices, Microsoft is attempting to extend
its reach far beyond the office.
Other technology companies also made a strong showing
at this year’s CES. Companies such as HP, Panasonic, Samsung, Sony,
and countless others were showing off an array of consumer electronics equipment,
far too many to name. As evidence of the diversification of the electronics
business, even companies such as Epson, in the past known almost exclusively
for their printers, had huge booths showing off their latest consumer electronics
technology, including devices such as cameras, displays, and more.
In summary, while this year’s CES may not have showcased
an abundance of technology that was completely new, it did show new combinations
and applications of such technology which made that technology accessible
and crystallized for the consumer how such technology would be used and seen
in the coming years.
Best Bag
As in the past, many exhibitors gave out bags for the
attendees. For those who have never been to the CES, the bags are important
because as you travel through the show and visit the displays of the exhibitors
you have many opportunities to pick up brochures, demonstration items, novelties,
etc. A good bag comes in handy. For the 2004 CES, we announce
the following Best Bag awards:
Overall Best Bag
-- Mintek
Best Extra Tall
Bag -- Creative
Best Wide Bag --
Nvidia
Best Cloth Bag
-- Sirius
