CES 2017: 5G and artificial intelligence take centre stage
Source: Sophie Curtis
The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) kicks off in Las Vegas this week, with technology companies from around the globe descending on "Sin City" to showcase their latest gadgets and offer a glimpse into our digital future.
From the camcorder and the CD player to the Xbox and the plasma TV, some of the best-known technologies of all time have debuted at CES, and some of the most famous industry figures have given keynotes, including Bill Gates, Michael Dell and Elon Musk.
This year marks the show's 50th annivarsary. The first CES kicked off in 1967, with 250 exhibitors and 17,500 attendees gathered in New York City. Since then, CES has grown by more than 10-fold, and now encompasses both traditional and non-traditional tech industries.
In 2016, CES attracted 3,886 exhibitors and 177,393 attendees, and covered more than 2.48 million square feet of exhibition space - with highlights ranging from HTC's Vive virtual reality headset to Volkswagen's gesture-controlled dashboard.
2017's show promises to be even bigger. Although many technology companies such as Apple and Google now run their own events, consumer tech giants like Samsung, Sony, LG and Panasonic continue to use CES to unveil their latest TVs, smartphones and home appliances.
However, often the most surprising innovations come from small companies and Kickstarter projects, in categories such as wearable technology, smart home appliances and 3D printing.
Here’s everything you need to know about CES 2017:
Where is it?
(Photo: Caters)
Las Vegas has long been the home of CES, with the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC) acting as the focal point. Over the course of the week, events will take place across the city, in many of the famous casinos including Mandalay Bay, the Bellagio, and the Wynn.
When is it?
CES 2017 officially runs from Thursday January 5 to Sunday January 8. However, products will start to be unveiled from Monday January 2, with many of the big product announcements being made during the press days on Tuesday January 3 and Wednesday January 4.
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