Consumer Electronics Show to unveil 2015 tech novelties

The Consumer Electronics Show, the world’s premier event of its kind, open its doors this week in Las Vegas.

The Jan. 69 show, organized by the Consumer Electronics Association, will be a stage for the “Internet of things,” the interaction of humans with their environment by connecting any object to the net, be it a doorlock or a gas burner.

The addition of sensors to any kind of device promises to drive the electronics business in coming years, along with the proliferation of 3D printers, drones and the gradual updating of televisions from high definition screens to 4K Ultra HD.

“The year 2016 will be the inflection point for 4K television,” Steve Koenig, CEA director for industry analysis, told journalists Sunday at a preshow briefing.

As has become the norm, this year’s CES will showcase giant TV sets, ranging from curved screens to ultrathin devices and all of them very expensive, though increasingly affordable for consumers in the United States, who are expected to spend roughly $5 billion on 4K screens in 2015.

There will also be new computers, like Acer’s Chromebook 15, and an opportunity to look at the latest in virtualreality gear from Oculus VR.

Koenig cited data showing that the smartphone still dominates the sector in terms of sales, thanks to growing demand for lowend phones in emerging markets that makes up for moderate demand in rich countries where consumers tend to spend more money on their devices.

Average price for a smartphone is expected to dip below the $300 mark this year, down from $449 in 2010.

Spending on portable phones and tablets is expected to account this year for 46 percent of total technology purchases.

Preliminary data for 2014 show the tech sector had revenues of more than $1 trillion, a 1 percent increase over 2013 and close to the level of 2011, when business grew 9 percent from the previous year.