CES Asia Bringing Latest Technology Innovation to the Asian Marketplace

The inaugural CES Asia^TM launched yesterday with more than 200 of the world’s most important names in consumer technology, including Audi, China Mobile, Ford, IBM, Intel, JD.com and Volkswagen – gathering in Shanghai to introduce groundbreaking technology innovation that is shaping the future of the industry and improving the lives of consumers around the world. Produced by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA)^® and co-produced by INTEX, the 2015 CES Asia will run May 25-27 in Shanghai, China, and will draw global businesses to showcase the latest products and technologies entering the Asian marketplace while shining a spotlight on Asian innovation.

“Each of you here today at CES Asia is participating in history.  We hope this event will someday grow and rival CES in Las Vegas,” said Gary Shapiro, president and CEO, CEA, as he delivered the show’s welcome address. “One thing we stand for and are passionate about is innovation, which plays a key role in bettering the human condition. Without innovation nothing changes and nothing is possible.”

Shapiro also discussed why Shanghai was selected as the host city for the first CES Asia: “We chose Shanghai because it is the ‘city of the future’ and a world center of commerce. China is central to the growth of the global consumer technology industry and Shanghai is a major gateway to the Chinese marketplace.”

CES Asia officially kicked off Sunday, May 24^th with a preshow keynote from Rupert Stadler, chairman of the board of management at AUDI AG. In a captivating opening address, Stadler explained how Audi is at the forefront of the current automotive revolution, one that is seeing the car evolve from a piece of hardware to a digital and connected device shaped by innovative technology. He wowed the audience by presenting the Audi R8 e-tron on stage, the world premiere of Audi’s automated “piloted” vehicle, which will be available for driverless test-drives through Shanghai for the duration of the show. Stadler stressed Audi’s commitment to unparalleled innovation in both automotive hardware and software, adding that, “today China is Audi’s largest single market worldwide and we are really proud of that.”

After the official ribbon cutting ceremony on Monday morning, attendees began streaming in. More than 15,000 attendees, including industry executives, international buyers and retailers, and more than 1,000 global media joined the show on the first day, with more than 25,000 attendees expected over the course of the show’s three-day run.

“The energy and excitement is tangible this week at our first-ever CES Asia, with all facets of tech innovation represented on the show floor and the latest products debuting before this incredible Asian market,” said Karen Chupka, senior vice president, International CES and corporate business strategy, CEA. “Industry retailers, buyers, manufacturers and media have traveled from all corners of the world to attend CES Asia, reinforcing the show as a must-attend destination for anyone with a vested interest in the growing Asian technology industry and launching products and services into this rapidly expanding market.”

Top industry executives will deliver addresses at CES Asia this week through the keynotes and industry mover presentations. The first day saw keynotes from Kirk Skaugen, sr. vice president and general manager of the client computing group, Intel^® Corp., and D.C. Chien, CEO of IBM Greater China Group. Skaugen treated audiences to demonstrations of technologies pioneered by Intel that could dramatically change our lives over the next few years, including magnetic resonance wireless chargers, 4k Ultra High Definition displays and RealSense™ 3D cameras. These cameras have the ability to map and identify users’ facial features, which could make written passwords obsolete in a few years. Skaugen was bullish about the future of technology and the promise of the Internet of Things (IoT).  He said, “Moore’s Law is alive and well. If it uses electricity it will connect to the internet and connect to everything else”

At IBM’s afternoon keynote, D.C Chien presented a comprehensive look at IBM’s rapid progress in the field of IoT, central to which is their IoT 3.0 technology. With this resource, companies can make better decisions based on data insights facilitated through cloud computing. Chien went on to discuss the three imperatives of technological innovation saying: “Data is becoming the world’s new natural resource, and the new basis of competitive advantage. Cloud [computing] is transforming IT and business processes into digital services, and is the path to new business models.” Other confirmed speakers for the next two days include leaders from Twitter, Suning, and Letv.

The overall CES Asia conference program brings together nearly 100 industry executives for three full days of sessions to discuss the latest topics and product trends from the ever-evolving technology industry. Many of the topics discussed in the opening day’s panel sessions were centered on key industry product categories. They include how a smart home complete with interconnected data-recording devices is becoming a reality; how 3D printing is becoming increasingly accessible and viable across various industries; and how the IoT is set to have a powerful influence on many aspects of our daily lives over the coming years.

CEA’s Dr. Shawn DuBravac, chief economist and senior director of research and Alfred Zhou, managing director, GFK Retail and Technology (China) Co., presented the Outlook for the Consumer Tech Market in China and the U.S. on Monday. “The United States and China represent two of the largest markets for consumer technology,” said DuBravac. “While many of the same themes are at play in both nations, they remain distinctly different consumer marketplaces.” As examples, DuBravac noted that emerging categories like wearables, smartwatches and drones are key areas of growth in the U.S., while China’s growth is primarily in the tablet market, along with Smart TVs.

Today DuBravac will discuss 2015 Technology Trends to Watch, at 11:45 AM, in the Kerry Hotel, Level 3, Grand Shanghai Ballroom 1. The session is open to conference attendees and will be immediately followed at 12:30 PM by a book signing of the Chinese-language edition of CEA’s best-seller, Digital Destiny: How the New Age of Data Will Transform the Way We Work, Live, and Communicate, which is authored by DuBravac. The book signing is open to all CES Asia attendees.

As well as serving as a leading platform for domestic manufacturers, CES Asia is also committed to helping international brands understand the needs of Chinese consumers and the Chinese electronics market. Results from a CEA study released this week: Chinese Consumers: Technology Brand Sentiment and Path to Purchase show that international brands are preferred by 76 percent of higher income bracket consumers in China. The demand for tech of the 30-something age bracket in China also is notable, with 64 percent planning to purchase a smartphone and 48 percent planning to purchase a smart watch in the next year. Upcoming conference sessions this week include topics such as “201 Tech Trends to Watch,” the “JD Smart Life Forum” and “The Wearable Tech Revolution.”