Category: Technology

  • Power transmission towers & cables market forecast to expand at 7 pc CAGR by ’23

    MUMBAI: The power transmission towers and cables market is expected to exceed more than US$ 14 billion by 2023 expanding at a CAGR of more than 7.0 per cent in the given forecast period 2015 and 2023, according to Market Research Engine’s new report which also covered Indian companies such as Kalpataru Power Transmission.

    Power transmission towers and cables are used to transmit and distribute or broadcast the electricity to all the end user from power production unit. The important supporting element of transmission line is transmission tower. It is a fundamental part of global power transmission infrastructure. These power transmission tower having variety of design, shape and located at an suitable height from land. These towers are made up of different materials includes steel, concrete, lattice and wood. For transmitting power to a particular location it uses transmission lines which having heavy conductor and various types of cable. The power transmission towers and cables has view increase growth in the current period, as growing requirement for electricity in all over world. It changes the old power transmission tower and cable infrastructure into latest version.

    The major driving factors of transmission towers and cables market are as follows:

    • Require for efficient transmission scheme
    • Rising demand for electricity across the world

    The restraints factors of transmission towers and cables market are as follows:

    • Complex development and approval procedures holdup projects

    The patient engagement solutions market is segmented on the lines of its type and geographical region. Under type segmentation it covers power transmission cable and power transmission towers. The transmission towers and cables market is geographic segmentation covers various regions such as North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa. Each geography market is further segmented to provide market revenue for select countries such as the U.S., Canada, U.K. Germany, China, Japan, India, Brazil, and GCC countries.

    The report covers detailed competitive outlook including the market share and company profiles of the key participants operating in the global market. Key players profiled in the report include General Cable Technologies Corp., Southwire Co. LLC, Zhejiang Shengda Steel Tower Co. Ltd., KEC International Ltd., Kalpataru Power Transmission Ltd., Nexans S.A., Prysmian S.p.A., Shandong Dingchang Tower Co. Ltd., Nanjing Daji Iron Tower Manufacturing Co. Ltd., and Sumitomo Electric Industries Ltd.

  • Triple Play targets cable & net subs, deploying Conax-secured, multi-DRM

    Triple Play targets cable & net subs, deploying Conax-secured, multi-DRM

    MUMBAI: Conax, part of the Kudelski Group, and a leader in total service protection for pay-TV and digital entertainment services worldwide via broadcast, broadband and connected devices, has announced that Indian pay-TV operator Triple Play has selected technology from Conax and Corpus to help drive expansion in the triple-play arena.

    The new solution includes a Conax-secured multi-DRM offering based on the Conax CaaS cloud-based platform, combined with pre-integrated middleware from partner Corpus, with system integration by Corpus. The operator will initially target its current cable and internet subscriber base including a mix of high and low ARPU consumers. The contract represents the first deployment of the joint Conax/Corpus offering and the first launch of Conax’ cloud-based multi-DRM platform in the Indian market.

    Triple Play is one of the largest triple play service provider working over FTTH (Fiber to the Home) in India through GPON (Gigabit passive optical network) Technology that enables the optical fiber to perform as a neutral-cum-independent network to carry multiple service providers to enhance & ensure higher level of subscriber satisfaction.

    The flexible architecture behind the Conax CaaS cloud-based platform and benchmark multi-DRM solution reduces CAPEX and leverages the Conax “pay-as-your-business-grows” principle creating a natural migration path, reduced time-to-market, simplified operations and scalability for adding new services. The value-added, pre-integrated partner ecosystem offers Triple Play a competitive edge in attracting new market share by leveraging Corpus’ comprehensive middleware solution providing smooth integration, and an enhanced user experience.

    Triple Play CEO Navneet Sethi “We chose Conax and Corpus to partner on our expansion into the triple-play arena based on a strong history of trust and competency for securing content in the Indian market and complex distribution environments, along with local presence and experience as well as a strong track record deploying advanced middleware and VOD solutions on both HD and SD STB’s even in the most challenging ecosystems.”

    Conax president & CEO Morten Solbakken “With a consumer market eager to adapt the latest choices for accessing desired content, we are pleased to be selected to support Triple Play as it moves to an enhanced service offering within the multi-DRM space. In addition, the joint cooperation cements our growing relationship with the skilled team at middleware partner, Corpus, in establishing the Conax multi-DRM footprint in India as well as the first deployment of the Conax CaaS cloud-based platform.”

    Corpus CEO Sachin Tummala “Corpus is pleased to partner with Conax in deploying its first cloud-based multi-DRM platform in the Indian market. We believe this will strengthen service providers’ ability to add more and more popular content and value added services. This will also enable us to continue to invest and enhance our technologies to adapt changes in the OTT space, while providing the best viewing experience to the end-consumer.”

    Conax provides the ultimate flexibility in securing content across technologies and multiscreen devices – all based on a single unified security hub. With support for Common Encryption and MPEG DASH, Conax’ unique back-end simplifies content protection of TV everywhere services with market-leading DRM technologies (including Widevine, PlayReady, FairPlay Streaming and NAGRA PRM) without compromising usability for end users. In addition, Conax removes the operator burden in negotiating separate contracts for various DRM technologies, offering a one-stop-shop solution to starting multi-DRM operations.

  • 5G TV may rival cable, satellite & IPTV: Report

    5G TV may rival cable, satellite & IPTV: Report

    MUMBAI: TV and video delivery is likely to become a core capability of next generation 5G wireless services, concludes a new report from Strategy Analytics. Recent demonstrations have suggested that 5G will support 1Gbps data throughput rates. Combining 5G with other networking enhancements and technologies would allow operators to support TV-equivalent services which could eat into the $500Bn global TV and video market currently served by cable, satellite, IPTV and terrestrial broadcast service providers.

    Strategy Analytics, Inc. provides the competitive edge with advisory services, consulting and actionable market intelligence for emerging technology, mobile and wireless, digital consumer and automotive electronics companies.

    “Data rates get the headlines, but other network technologies will also make or break the business case for 5G TV services,” says Service Provider Analysis director Sue Rudd. “The efficiency of the end-to-end network will determine whether 5G TV is possible, but we have seen enough from early demonstrations by operators like Verizon, Deutsche Telekom, SK Telecom, AT&T and BT to suggest that it will arrive sooner or later in many parts of the world.”

    The report points out that the number of households and devices supported by a 5G TV service within any cell will make or break the 5G TV business case. The number of termination locations can be increased by a factor of three or more by deploying several network enhancements that deliver ‘trunking’ efficiency in the Radio Access Network (RAN). These include MIMO and beamforming for optimal spectrum use, virtualization of cell sites, dynamic throughput over backhaul networks and network slicing to guarantee data rates to the household.

    “Television is already being transformed by new digital services like Netflix and Amazon,” notes Michael Goodman, Director, TV and Media Strategies. “The arrival of 5G TV wireless services could herald another wave of TV disruption through the 2020s and beyond.”

    “The emergence of 5G TV would represent a further stage in the convergence of media and communications, and wireless and fixed services,” says David Mercer, VP and Principal Analyst. “It would also raise important questions relating to the roles of different ecosystem players and the future structure of the media value chain.”

    Also Read:

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    Regulations 2016: Of DeMon challenges, changing goalposts & rampant litigation

    Sports TV 2016: Digital explosion, player consolidation & confusion

    Tata Elxsi to showcase latest innovations & solutions in BroadcastAsia 2016

  • LG, Sony to stop making 3D TV sets

    LG, Sony to stop making 3D TV sets

    MUMBAI: At one stage it was touted as the future of television. Thanks to the stupendous success that James Cameron’s 3D version of Avatar achieved at the box office with its spectacular 3D graphics and colors. A rash of manufacturers rushed in rolling out 3D TV sets which could be watched with either wearables or with a screen to make the images jump out at viewers. 3D channels by DirectTV, Sky, ESPN, Comcast, Sony and other players in different parts of the world were launched.

    But 2017 will be the year when 3D TV was given a quite burial or cremation if you so like. The world’s largest manufacturers of TVs – LG, Sony – informed CNET last week that they were going to stop integrating 3D capabilities into the TV sets they manufacture from 2017.

    The reason: the technology required viewers to sit stationary and view the programming from a specific angle. Which consumers did not buy into at all.

    The channels that were launched were shuttered quickly but 3D TV capabilities continued to be offered by manufacturers. Until this year, that is.

    “3D capability was never really universally embraced in the industry for home use, and it’s just not a key buying factor when selecting a new TV,” said LG’s director of new product development Tim Alessi, to CNET. “Purchase process research showed it’s not a top buying consideration, and anecdotal information indicated that actual usage was not high. We decided to drop 3D support for 2017.”

    Manufacturers will now be focusing on 4K, UHD, HDR and smart TV features going forward.

  • LG, Sony to stop making 3D TV sets

    LG, Sony to stop making 3D TV sets

    MUMBAI: At one stage it was touted as the future of television. Thanks to the stupendous success that James Cameron’s 3D version of Avatar achieved at the box office with its spectacular 3D graphics and colors. A rash of manufacturers rushed in rolling out 3D TV sets which could be watched with either wearables or with a screen to make the images jump out at viewers. 3D channels by DirectTV, Sky, ESPN, Comcast, Sony and other players in different parts of the world were launched.

    But 2017 will be the year when 3D TV was given a quite burial or cremation if you so like. The world’s largest manufacturers of TVs – LG, Sony – informed CNET last week that they were going to stop integrating 3D capabilities into the TV sets they manufacture from 2017.

    The reason: the technology required viewers to sit stationary and view the programming from a specific angle. Which consumers did not buy into at all.

    The channels that were launched were shuttered quickly but 3D TV capabilities continued to be offered by manufacturers. Until this year, that is.

    “3D capability was never really universally embraced in the industry for home use, and it’s just not a key buying factor when selecting a new TV,” said LG’s director of new product development Tim Alessi, to CNET. “Purchase process research showed it’s not a top buying consideration, and anecdotal information indicated that actual usage was not high. We decided to drop 3D support for 2017.”

    Manufacturers will now be focusing on 4K, UHD, HDR and smart TV features going forward.

  • CES 2017 catapults a connected world

    CES 2017 catapults a connected world

    LAS VEGA: CES 2017, the 50th anniversary of the largest global gathering of innovation and connectivity, concluded today, introducing ground-breaking products, providing opportunities for companies in every major global industry to conduct business, and shattering records.

    CES 2017 showcased the connected future of technology. With more than 3,800 exhibiting companies and exhibit space of more than 2.6 million net square feet, CES 2017 was a record-breaker, welcoming the world’s biggest companies in addition to hosting more than 600 startups at the Eureka Park Marketplace. More than 175,000 industry professionals, including 55,000 from outside the U.S., convened in Las Vegas to drive the ever-evolving global technology industry forward. A highlight video announcing official show stats can be found here.

    “CES 2017 shifted to a new level as large and small companies from around the globe gathered to reveal solutions for many of our world’s most challenging problems,” said Gary Shapiro, president and CEO, Consumer Technology Association (CTA). “Our industry is bettering the world through connectivity and innovation, touching literally every facet of our lives. Today’s connected world was on full display this week at CES 2017 – our largest, boldest show in history.”

    “From startups to established businesses, traditional tech companies, along with those in new industries like travel and sports, came together and vigorously embraced technology for the 50th anniversary of CES,” said Karen Chupka, senior vice president, CES and corporate business strategy, CTA. “This year’s show was all about connectivity – both in the form of the technologies unveiled and in the valuable face-to-face business connections happening throughout the show.”

    “CES is the world’s most important technology trade show, but now it is so much more,” said John Penney, chief strategy officer, Starz. “By gathering the world’s great innovators, companies, technologies, products and entrepreneurs in one place, CES is now an integral part of the global innovation system. CES and its attendees are working to build a better future for us all.”

    “CES 2017 was a global showcase that demonstrated that we are in a new era of innovation where technology is valued not just for the devices it produces but for the experiences it makes possible,” said Bridget Karlin, managing director, IOT, Intel.

    Connectivity was everywhere at CES 2017 – enabling nearly every product category, from self-driving cars and smart cities to digital health and 5G – and a major focus throughout CES conference tracks. 5G will revolutionize our connected world, and the entire connected ecosystem came together at CES 2017.

    “CES 2017 was a coming out party for the future of 5G which we estimate will generate a net 20 million new jobs,” said Dr. Jim Mault, vice president and chief medical officer, Qualcomm Life.

    CES 2017 welcomed government officials from around the world. U.S. government leaders in attendance included three members of the Federal Trade Commission, three members of the Federal Communications Commission, U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx, along with U.S. Senator Dean Heller and seven members of the U.S. House of Representatives. Other top level U.S. government attendees included representatives from the Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Energy, Department of Homeland Security, International Trade Commission and Patent and Trademark Office.

    Notable global political leaders in attendance included His Royal Highness Prince Constantijn of the Netherlands; Franҫois Fillon, French presidential candidate; Axelle Lemaire, France’s Deputy Minister for Innovation and Digital Affairs; Henk Kamp, Dutch Minister of Economic Affairs; Jaime Reyes Robles, Secretary of Innovation, Science and Technology, Government of the State of Jalisco, Mexico; Adebayo Shittu, Nigeria’s Honourable Minister of Communications; Navdeep Bains, Canada’s Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development; Brad Duguid, Canada’s Ontario Minister of Economic Development and Growth; and Matt Hancock MP, Minister of State for Digital and Culture, Department for Culture, Media and Sport, UK Government.

    “CES educates public officials about our industry,” said John Godfrey, senior vice president of public policy, Samsung Electronics. “It was great to see so many key officials at this year’s show.”

    CES is the global stage for innovation, with attendees from more than 150 countries and more than 100 official national delegations.

    “This is the one show where I can see all of my international partners in one place. It is the one event where I invite them and they all come,” said John Ivey, president and CEO, MiTek Corp. and AtlasIED8.

    CES 2017 drew world-famous celebrities from Hollywood, sports, eSports and music to Las Vegas to experience the latest in tech. CES Ambassador Aisha Tyler; Major League Baseball All-Star Bryce Harper; NBA Hall-of-Famer Shaquille O’Neal; U.S. Olympian Michael Phelps and actress Octavia Spencer were among the many stars participating in the show. See a full list of celebrities attending CES 2017.

    With more than 6,500 members of the media in attendance, CES 2017 garnered worldwide media coverage. The show also received impressive social media momentum, including nearly 1.4 million mentions using #CES2017 hashtags.

    CES 2017 also hosted competitive contests, including the Best of CES awards, presented by Engadget, and the Mobile App Showdown, presented by Living in Digital Times. The semi-finals for Richard Branson’s Extreme Tech Challenge (XTC) also returned to CES for a chance to compete in the final round of competition at Branson’s Nekar Island. Be sure to check out all the winners.

    Now in its third year, the annual CES Asia™ will run June 7-9, 2017 in Shanghai, China, showcasing the latest ideas and innovations from global brands and promising startups. Companies interested in applying to exhibit can find more details at CESAsia.com.

  • CES 2017 catapults a connected world

    CES 2017 catapults a connected world

    LAS VEGA: CES 2017, the 50th anniversary of the largest global gathering of innovation and connectivity, concluded today, introducing ground-breaking products, providing opportunities for companies in every major global industry to conduct business, and shattering records.

    CES 2017 showcased the connected future of technology. With more than 3,800 exhibiting companies and exhibit space of more than 2.6 million net square feet, CES 2017 was a record-breaker, welcoming the world’s biggest companies in addition to hosting more than 600 startups at the Eureka Park Marketplace. More than 175,000 industry professionals, including 55,000 from outside the U.S., convened in Las Vegas to drive the ever-evolving global technology industry forward. A highlight video announcing official show stats can be found here.

    “CES 2017 shifted to a new level as large and small companies from around the globe gathered to reveal solutions for many of our world’s most challenging problems,” said Gary Shapiro, president and CEO, Consumer Technology Association (CTA). “Our industry is bettering the world through connectivity and innovation, touching literally every facet of our lives. Today’s connected world was on full display this week at CES 2017 – our largest, boldest show in history.”

    “From startups to established businesses, traditional tech companies, along with those in new industries like travel and sports, came together and vigorously embraced technology for the 50th anniversary of CES,” said Karen Chupka, senior vice president, CES and corporate business strategy, CTA. “This year’s show was all about connectivity – both in the form of the technologies unveiled and in the valuable face-to-face business connections happening throughout the show.”

    “CES is the world’s most important technology trade show, but now it is so much more,” said John Penney, chief strategy officer, Starz. “By gathering the world’s great innovators, companies, technologies, products and entrepreneurs in one place, CES is now an integral part of the global innovation system. CES and its attendees are working to build a better future for us all.”

    “CES 2017 was a global showcase that demonstrated that we are in a new era of innovation where technology is valued not just for the devices it produces but for the experiences it makes possible,” said Bridget Karlin, managing director, IOT, Intel.

    Connectivity was everywhere at CES 2017 – enabling nearly every product category, from self-driving cars and smart cities to digital health and 5G – and a major focus throughout CES conference tracks. 5G will revolutionize our connected world, and the entire connected ecosystem came together at CES 2017.

    “CES 2017 was a coming out party for the future of 5G which we estimate will generate a net 20 million new jobs,” said Dr. Jim Mault, vice president and chief medical officer, Qualcomm Life.

    CES 2017 welcomed government officials from around the world. U.S. government leaders in attendance included three members of the Federal Trade Commission, three members of the Federal Communications Commission, U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx, along with U.S. Senator Dean Heller and seven members of the U.S. House of Representatives. Other top level U.S. government attendees included representatives from the Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Energy, Department of Homeland Security, International Trade Commission and Patent and Trademark Office.

    Notable global political leaders in attendance included His Royal Highness Prince Constantijn of the Netherlands; Franҫois Fillon, French presidential candidate; Axelle Lemaire, France’s Deputy Minister for Innovation and Digital Affairs; Henk Kamp, Dutch Minister of Economic Affairs; Jaime Reyes Robles, Secretary of Innovation, Science and Technology, Government of the State of Jalisco, Mexico; Adebayo Shittu, Nigeria’s Honourable Minister of Communications; Navdeep Bains, Canada’s Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development; Brad Duguid, Canada’s Ontario Minister of Economic Development and Growth; and Matt Hancock MP, Minister of State for Digital and Culture, Department for Culture, Media and Sport, UK Government.

    “CES educates public officials about our industry,” said John Godfrey, senior vice president of public policy, Samsung Electronics. “It was great to see so many key officials at this year’s show.”

    CES is the global stage for innovation, with attendees from more than 150 countries and more than 100 official national delegations.

    “This is the one show where I can see all of my international partners in one place. It is the one event where I invite them and they all come,” said John Ivey, president and CEO, MiTek Corp. and AtlasIED8.

    CES 2017 drew world-famous celebrities from Hollywood, sports, eSports and music to Las Vegas to experience the latest in tech. CES Ambassador Aisha Tyler; Major League Baseball All-Star Bryce Harper; NBA Hall-of-Famer Shaquille O’Neal; U.S. Olympian Michael Phelps and actress Octavia Spencer were among the many stars participating in the show. See a full list of celebrities attending CES 2017.

    With more than 6,500 members of the media in attendance, CES 2017 garnered worldwide media coverage. The show also received impressive social media momentum, including nearly 1.4 million mentions using #CES2017 hashtags.

    CES 2017 also hosted competitive contests, including the Best of CES awards, presented by Engadget, and the Mobile App Showdown, presented by Living in Digital Times. The semi-finals for Richard Branson’s Extreme Tech Challenge (XTC) also returned to CES for a chance to compete in the final round of competition at Branson’s Nekar Island. Be sure to check out all the winners.

    Now in its third year, the annual CES Asia™ will run June 7-9, 2017 in Shanghai, China, showcasing the latest ideas and innovations from global brands and promising startups. Companies interested in applying to exhibit can find more details at CESAsia.com.

  • Innovation at CES 2017 transcends industries and spurs emerging markets

    Innovation at CES 2017 transcends industries and spurs emerging markets

    LAS VEGAS: The latest emerging innovation across every major industry takes center stage this week at CES® 2017, with product launches that propel global markets from automotive, sports and fitness, software, healthcare, entertainment and more. Owned and produced by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA)TM, CES 2017, the world’s largest innovation event, runs through tomorrow, January 8, in Las Vegas, Nevada.

    Keynotes and Headline Speakers

    During Friday morning’s keynote, Qualcomm CEO Steve Mollenkopf introduced the 5G future, a new kind of network with unprecedented scale, speed and complexity. “5G will be the tipping point that builds on LTE and finally enables IoT,” said Mollenkopf. During the keynote, Qualcomm introduced the Snapdragon 835, the first 10 nanometer mobile processor that can deliver extended battery life, built-in security, eye-based authentication, secure audio, on-device machine learning and immersive experiences.

    Under Armour Founder and CEO Kevin Plank took the keynote stage Friday afternoon and emphasized the importance of branding saying that “the key to any brand is to have personality and point of view.” Under Armour is innovating by putting technology front and center, investing $1 billion in health and fitness tech. Plank unveiled three new models of the company’s Record Equipped shoes, which give performance feedback based on workouts. Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian of all-time, joined Plank onstage to demo the shoes and talk about UA Healthbox, powered by UA Record, the world’s first connected fitness system. The keynote wrapped with the unveiling of a new line of sleep apparel, dubbed Rest Win Repeat, in collaboration with Patriot’s quarterback Tom Brady, designed to rebuild the body while it rests through infrared technology.

    Top industry executives and influencers joined global government officials at the annual Leaders in Technology Dinner on Friday evening. Ford President and CEO Mark Fields shared the company’s vision for how the future of mobility will be transformed by connectivity. “Imagine what could happen when the way you get around looks completely different. Cities will change. The way we work and play and socialize will transform. And it will all be enabled by connectivity,” said Fields. He announced that Ford Sync is expanding to deliver cloud-based services and that soon all Ford vehicles will be controlled remotely with the FordPass app. He also recapped Ford’s recent partnership with Toyota to form the SmartDeviceLink Consortium to establish industry-driven standards for in-vehicle apps.

    Conferences

    Day two and three of CES 2017 featured SuperSessions and conference tracks focused on technology trends and policy issues, as well as C Space Storytellers and the Sports Business Innovation Track.

    Friday’s SuperSession Powering the Sharing Economy to Transform Lives featured panelists from Grab, the Prime Minister’s Office of Singapore and Lyft. Panelists discussed the potential of the sharing economy to democratize transportation and make travel an enjoyment, not a burden. Annabel Chang, director of public policy, Lyft, explained that among her company’s customer base, “Most people do not live within a quarter mile of a transit stop. A significant percentage of our riders take Lyft to a transportation hub, then take public transportation on their final leg.”

    The Self-Driving Cars: New Rules of the Road SuperSession moderated by USA Today’s tech reporter, Mike Snider, discussed with top executives from Blackberry, Intel and Mobileye how a collaborative approach between automakers, hardware and software developers is driving the rapid pace of self-driving innovations. The panelists agreed that in order to reach the expected goal of having self-driving cars on the road by 2020, the industry needs to fully solve the convergence of IoT and artificial intelligence.

    Friday’s SuperSession The Power of Hidden Figures, sponsored by IBM, focused on illuminating the story of women and minorities in traditionally non-cinematic roles: advancing the math and science fields. Moderated by journalist Soledad O’Brien, panelists included actress Octavia Spencer and representatives from IBM, New York City Department of Education, 20th Century Fox and Girls Who Code. IBM highlighted its organic commitment to diversity and inclusion over the past century.

    The Opportunities for the Global Innovation Economy SuperSession, moderated by Time Inc.’s Alan Murray, examined with CEOs from Flex, Ford and Intel how consumer technology companies are leveraging their power to build global brands and advance innovation in a rapidly changing world. The panelists – Mark Fields, president and CEO, Ford Motor Company; Brian Krzanich, CEO, Intel Corp and Mike McNamara, CEO, Flex – discussed how globalization and digitalization have been the two great trends in innovation over the last 50 years and what we can expect moving forward.

    C Space Storytellers

    During the Turner session, Otto Bell, vice president and group creative director of Courageous, Turner’s first-ever brand studio, announced the beginning of the “Post-Text Era” where images and video do all the talking. Courageous is developing new ways to utilize technology to reach viewers from 360 cameras to VR.

    At the Facebook session, Andrew “Boz” Bosworth, VP of ads & business platforms, Facebook sat down for a fireside chat with Sony’s Josh Greenstein, president of worldwide marketing & distribution. Bosworth and Greenstein discussed how mobile and social media platforms are shaping Sony’s marketing campaigns to reach targeted audiences. Bosworth noted Facebook provides a myriad of platforms for marketing customization and distribution to targeted audiences.

    Executive producer of BBC Earth Productions, Charlotte Jones, provided a deep dive into the opportunities of storytelling through VR and AR during BBC’s Storytellers session on Friday. Collaborating with Oculus VR, BBC Earth Productions is creating interactive movies and games to be experienced by consumers using Oculus Rift and Samsung Gear VR.

    Twitter CMO Leslie Berland opened the company’s Storytellers session Friday afternoon with a look back on 2016 using Tweets. Twitter has positioned itself as more than a social media platform. By changing the rules of storytelling, Twitter is able to capture news and real-time moments through its users.

    Sports Business Innovation

    Technology spans all industries including sports. The Sports Business Innovation track, presented by Turner Sports ran a series of jam-packed sessions that featured Gary Bettman, Commissioner NHL, Don Garber, Commissioner, Major League Soccer, Scott Blackmun, CEO, U.S. Olympic Committee, Brian France, Chairman and CEO, Nascar, Dan Gilbert, Majority Owner, Cleveland Cavaliers and Alejandro Agag, CEO, Formula E.

    These big names from professional sports leagues and partners took a deep-dive into the future of sports tech. The series focused on topics including: how to extend the fan experience, what the future of arena technology looks like and how virtual and augmented reality can become part of the experience, generational differences in content consumption and viewing patterns, and how data analytics effect personnel management and player performance.

    Innovation Policy Track

    Friday’s panel The Trolls and Tech: How to Fix Patents was moderated by CTA’s Michael Patrick Hayes and featured Tyler Grimm, legislature director for Rep. Darrell Issa; Athenahealth’s Colin Anawaty; Tech:NYC’s Julie Samuels and InterDigital’s Rob Stein. The panelists discussed the harm and damage patent trolls can do to businesses, as well as how Congress can find a reasonable solution for patent reform. US Patent and Trade Office director Michelle Lee gave the panel’s opening statement surrounding the agency’s recent efforts, reform and projects to combat the problem. US Representative Darrell Issa (R-CA) made a surprise appearance, delivering closing comments and explaining how patent trolls can devastate small companies.

    Saturday’s panel New President, New Congress? What’s Next included Rep. Bob Latta (R-OH); Rep. Eric Swalwell, (D-CA); Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) and Rep. Will Hurd (R-TX), with moderator Tiffany M. Moore, VP, congressional affairs, CTA. The session showed bipartisan agreement about many policies needed to promote innovation and support technological leadership, including high skilled immigration reform, endorsing strong encryption, flexibility for emerging sharing economy business models and making more spectrum available for commercial and public use. Attending his 35th CES, Rep. Issa emphasized that high skilled immigration reform would be one of his priorities, saying, “We need to make sure the companies who want to expand get the resources they need, including talent.”

    Friday also featured the Stars of CES Awards, presented by What Hi-Fi recognizing the top 10 audio and video products launched at this year’s show. The complete list of winners can be found at WhatHiFi.com.

    Saturday’s always popular Last Gadget Standing, presented by Living in Digital Times, featured the top products unveiled at CES 2017. Hosted by David Pogue from Yahoo! Tech, the innovations showcased included cutting-edge wearables, smart home technologies and connected networks. The Matrix Powerwatch, which never needs charging or battery replacement and displays how much electric power your body is generating and accurately measures calories burned was crowned the winner.

  • Innovation at CES 2017 transcends industries and spurs emerging markets

    Innovation at CES 2017 transcends industries and spurs emerging markets

    LAS VEGAS: The latest emerging innovation across every major industry takes center stage this week at CES® 2017, with product launches that propel global markets from automotive, sports and fitness, software, healthcare, entertainment and more. Owned and produced by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA)TM, CES 2017, the world’s largest innovation event, runs through tomorrow, January 8, in Las Vegas, Nevada.

    Keynotes and Headline Speakers

    During Friday morning’s keynote, Qualcomm CEO Steve Mollenkopf introduced the 5G future, a new kind of network with unprecedented scale, speed and complexity. “5G will be the tipping point that builds on LTE and finally enables IoT,” said Mollenkopf. During the keynote, Qualcomm introduced the Snapdragon 835, the first 10 nanometer mobile processor that can deliver extended battery life, built-in security, eye-based authentication, secure audio, on-device machine learning and immersive experiences.

    Under Armour Founder and CEO Kevin Plank took the keynote stage Friday afternoon and emphasized the importance of branding saying that “the key to any brand is to have personality and point of view.” Under Armour is innovating by putting technology front and center, investing $1 billion in health and fitness tech. Plank unveiled three new models of the company’s Record Equipped shoes, which give performance feedback based on workouts. Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian of all-time, joined Plank onstage to demo the shoes and talk about UA Healthbox, powered by UA Record, the world’s first connected fitness system. The keynote wrapped with the unveiling of a new line of sleep apparel, dubbed Rest Win Repeat, in collaboration with Patriot’s quarterback Tom Brady, designed to rebuild the body while it rests through infrared technology.

    Top industry executives and influencers joined global government officials at the annual Leaders in Technology Dinner on Friday evening. Ford President and CEO Mark Fields shared the company’s vision for how the future of mobility will be transformed by connectivity. “Imagine what could happen when the way you get around looks completely different. Cities will change. The way we work and play and socialize will transform. And it will all be enabled by connectivity,” said Fields. He announced that Ford Sync is expanding to deliver cloud-based services and that soon all Ford vehicles will be controlled remotely with the FordPass app. He also recapped Ford’s recent partnership with Toyota to form the SmartDeviceLink Consortium to establish industry-driven standards for in-vehicle apps.

    Conferences

    Day two and three of CES 2017 featured SuperSessions and conference tracks focused on technology trends and policy issues, as well as C Space Storytellers and the Sports Business Innovation Track.

    Friday’s SuperSession Powering the Sharing Economy to Transform Lives featured panelists from Grab, the Prime Minister’s Office of Singapore and Lyft. Panelists discussed the potential of the sharing economy to democratize transportation and make travel an enjoyment, not a burden. Annabel Chang, director of public policy, Lyft, explained that among her company’s customer base, “Most people do not live within a quarter mile of a transit stop. A significant percentage of our riders take Lyft to a transportation hub, then take public transportation on their final leg.”

    The Self-Driving Cars: New Rules of the Road SuperSession moderated by USA Today’s tech reporter, Mike Snider, discussed with top executives from Blackberry, Intel and Mobileye how a collaborative approach between automakers, hardware and software developers is driving the rapid pace of self-driving innovations. The panelists agreed that in order to reach the expected goal of having self-driving cars on the road by 2020, the industry needs to fully solve the convergence of IoT and artificial intelligence.

    Friday’s SuperSession The Power of Hidden Figures, sponsored by IBM, focused on illuminating the story of women and minorities in traditionally non-cinematic roles: advancing the math and science fields. Moderated by journalist Soledad O’Brien, panelists included actress Octavia Spencer and representatives from IBM, New York City Department of Education, 20th Century Fox and Girls Who Code. IBM highlighted its organic commitment to diversity and inclusion over the past century.

    The Opportunities for the Global Innovation Economy SuperSession, moderated by Time Inc.’s Alan Murray, examined with CEOs from Flex, Ford and Intel how consumer technology companies are leveraging their power to build global brands and advance innovation in a rapidly changing world. The panelists – Mark Fields, president and CEO, Ford Motor Company; Brian Krzanich, CEO, Intel Corp and Mike McNamara, CEO, Flex – discussed how globalization and digitalization have been the two great trends in innovation over the last 50 years and what we can expect moving forward.

    C Space Storytellers

    During the Turner session, Otto Bell, vice president and group creative director of Courageous, Turner’s first-ever brand studio, announced the beginning of the “Post-Text Era” where images and video do all the talking. Courageous is developing new ways to utilize technology to reach viewers from 360 cameras to VR.

    At the Facebook session, Andrew “Boz” Bosworth, VP of ads & business platforms, Facebook sat down for a fireside chat with Sony’s Josh Greenstein, president of worldwide marketing & distribution. Bosworth and Greenstein discussed how mobile and social media platforms are shaping Sony’s marketing campaigns to reach targeted audiences. Bosworth noted Facebook provides a myriad of platforms for marketing customization and distribution to targeted audiences.

    Executive producer of BBC Earth Productions, Charlotte Jones, provided a deep dive into the opportunities of storytelling through VR and AR during BBC’s Storytellers session on Friday. Collaborating with Oculus VR, BBC Earth Productions is creating interactive movies and games to be experienced by consumers using Oculus Rift and Samsung Gear VR.

    Twitter CMO Leslie Berland opened the company’s Storytellers session Friday afternoon with a look back on 2016 using Tweets. Twitter has positioned itself as more than a social media platform. By changing the rules of storytelling, Twitter is able to capture news and real-time moments through its users.

    Sports Business Innovation

    Technology spans all industries including sports. The Sports Business Innovation track, presented by Turner Sports ran a series of jam-packed sessions that featured Gary Bettman, Commissioner NHL, Don Garber, Commissioner, Major League Soccer, Scott Blackmun, CEO, U.S. Olympic Committee, Brian France, Chairman and CEO, Nascar, Dan Gilbert, Majority Owner, Cleveland Cavaliers and Alejandro Agag, CEO, Formula E.

    These big names from professional sports leagues and partners took a deep-dive into the future of sports tech. The series focused on topics including: how to extend the fan experience, what the future of arena technology looks like and how virtual and augmented reality can become part of the experience, generational differences in content consumption and viewing patterns, and how data analytics effect personnel management and player performance.

    Innovation Policy Track

    Friday’s panel The Trolls and Tech: How to Fix Patents was moderated by CTA’s Michael Patrick Hayes and featured Tyler Grimm, legislature director for Rep. Darrell Issa; Athenahealth’s Colin Anawaty; Tech:NYC’s Julie Samuels and InterDigital’s Rob Stein. The panelists discussed the harm and damage patent trolls can do to businesses, as well as how Congress can find a reasonable solution for patent reform. US Patent and Trade Office director Michelle Lee gave the panel’s opening statement surrounding the agency’s recent efforts, reform and projects to combat the problem. US Representative Darrell Issa (R-CA) made a surprise appearance, delivering closing comments and explaining how patent trolls can devastate small companies.

    Saturday’s panel New President, New Congress? What’s Next included Rep. Bob Latta (R-OH); Rep. Eric Swalwell, (D-CA); Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) and Rep. Will Hurd (R-TX), with moderator Tiffany M. Moore, VP, congressional affairs, CTA. The session showed bipartisan agreement about many policies needed to promote innovation and support technological leadership, including high skilled immigration reform, endorsing strong encryption, flexibility for emerging sharing economy business models and making more spectrum available for commercial and public use. Attending his 35th CES, Rep. Issa emphasized that high skilled immigration reform would be one of his priorities, saying, “We need to make sure the companies who want to expand get the resources they need, including talent.”

    Friday also featured the Stars of CES Awards, presented by What Hi-Fi recognizing the top 10 audio and video products launched at this year’s show. The complete list of winners can be found at WhatHiFi.com.

    Saturday’s always popular Last Gadget Standing, presented by Living in Digital Times, featured the top products unveiled at CES 2017. Hosted by David Pogue from Yahoo! Tech, the innovations showcased included cutting-edge wearables, smart home technologies and connected networks. The Matrix Powerwatch, which never needs charging or battery replacement and displays how much electric power your body is generating and accurately measures calories burned was crowned the winner.

  • CES 2017 unveils game-changing innovation to the world

    CES 2017 unveils game-changing innovation to the world

    LAS VEGAS: The future of technology was unveiled yesterday on opening day of CES® 2017, as more than 3,800 companies debuted products across a record 2.6 million net square feet of exhibit space. Opening day featured future-focused product announcements and keynotes from the leaders of Carnival Corp., Huawei and Nissan, in addition to a C Space keynote with chairman and senior executive of IAC and Expedia, Inc. Barry Diller and chairman and CEO of MediaLink Michael E. Kassan. Owned and produced by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA)TM, CES 2017 runs through Sunday, January 8, in Las Vegas, Nevada.

    Keynotes
    CTA president & CEO Gary Shapiro kicked off CES 2017 by exploring how technology transcends industries, transforms lives and fosters innovation. “Today’s innovators are working long hours and late nights to change lives for the better – and in some cases they’re saving lives,” he said. Shapiro announced that CTA will invest $1 million in five initiatives to help create better paying American jobs that maintain U.S. leadership in technology and innovation. “Our industry supports 15 million jobs and it’s time those of us in corporate America take an ethical responsibility and ownership in our national future.” Shapiro also announced CTA’s “Let’s Go Humans” campaign, celebrating innovators and creators who are developing technologies that are improving lives and making the world a better place to live.

    Immediately following Shapiro, Carnival Corp president & CEO Arnold Donald took the opening keynote stage to unveil the Ocean Medallion, a first-of-its-kind wearable that acts as a personal digital concierge for cruise guests. The Medallion enables guests to access rooms, make on-board purchases, locate family and friends and so much more to maximize the cruise experience. “Each guest is different and the things that make them happy are different,” said Arnold. “Our mission is to personalize and simplify the vacation experience for everyone.”

    During the C Space keynote, IAC and Expedia’s Barry Diller discussed changes in the media landscape and how the advertising industry is being challenged today by fake news. This interview-style session was moderated by MediaLinks’ Michael E. Kassan and addressed the potential negative consequences of the public’s newly-found freedom to publish content. “Before, you needed a distributor,” said Diller, “Now you push a button and publish to the world; while that’s freeing, it has lots of nasty consequences.”

    Richard Yu, CEO of Huawei Consumer Business Group delivered a keynote address on Thursday afternoon. He said the company has invested $38 billion in R&D in the last 10 years and announced a new smartphone with a dual-camera – a second generation Leica Dual camera, featuring dual sensors and 2X hybrid zoom. Yu showcased an ultra-long lasting battery with the Huawei SuperCharge, which charges four times faster and lasts 50 percent longer than other smartphone batteries. He also introduced the Mate 9, the world’s first intelligent smartphone to integrate with Alexa, the intelligent voice service.

    Wrapping up the day, Nissan Motor Corp chairman & CEO Carlos Ghosn shared the company’s vision for a zero-emissions, zero-fatality world. “The disruptive angle of autonomous drive technology, electric vehicles, connected cars and services means we will see more change in the next ten years than we did in the last 50,” said Ghosn. He then announced that the next-generation Nissan Leaf electric vehicle will come with the semi-autonomous ProPilot system, as well as the company’s plans to launch their Seamless Autonomous Mobility (SAM) system. Developed from NASA technology, SAM enables a “human in the loop” approach to autonomous driving, which monitors a vehicle’s path from a distance, providing peace of mind to drivers.

    SuperSessions and Conferences
    Opening day featured dynamic SuperSessions and conferences, including the Sports Business Innovation conference, C Space Storytellers panel series and the Innovation Policy conference.

    The Stoked About 5G SuperSession, moderated by ReCode Senior Editor of Mobile Ina Fried, featured executives from 20th Century Fox Film, BMW Group, Ericsson and SK Telecom. The panel discussed the possibilities for innovation using the new 5G network – a network that reacts faster than the human brain.

    CTA’s Gary Shapiro sat down with Federal Trade Commission Chairwoman Edith Ramirez to discuss consumer privacy, the Internet of Things, patent trolls and the sharing economy. Ramirez emphasized the need for Congressional action to ensure the functions of internet-enabled devices are transparent. “All of the innovation you see on the CES show floor depends on the use and gathering of data, and that’s only going to accelerate, especially in regard to artificial intelligence and machine learning,” said Ramirez.

    David Kirkpatrick, founder and CEO of Techonomy, moderated The Challenges Facing an Artificially Intelligent World SuperSession. Speakers included Chris O’Connor, general manager, IBM Watson, Dr. Vivienne Ming, co-founder, Socos, Jeroen Tas, CEO, Connected Care & Health Informatics, Philips, and Paul Daugherty, chief technology & innovation officer, Accenture. The panel discussed the future of Artificial Intelligence (AI), how it will grow to become all-inclusive, similar to IoT, and how AI will enhance human lives, help further develop our abilities and change our society.

    CNET’s Next Big Thing SuperSession was moderated by CNET Editor-in-Chief Lindsey Turrentine and CNET’s Editor-at-Large Brian Cooley. The panel explored barriers to unlocking the smart home. Obstacles discussed included cost, complexity and security. When the group turned to discuss security, they were briefly joined on stage by actress Carly Chaikin, who plays the hacker Darlene on the USA television series “Mr. Robot.” Security of the smart home, the panelists agreed, is the starting point of any smart home device.

    C Space Storyteller Sessions

    Thursday’s C Space Storyteller sessions kicked off with Margo Georgiadis, president, Americas at Google, moderating a panel with leaders from Universal Pictures and AT&T. The executives took a deep dive into how each brand leverages mobile to grow stronger and drive business results. They also touched on how to win the war for attention with so much content competition, with the consensus being to hook and hold audiences with compelling content.

    Next, executives from Hulu and Live Nation took the C Space stage to discuss how they are redefining the concert experience through a new frontier: Virtual Reality. Kevin Chernett, executive vice president, global partnerships and content distribution at Live Nation Entertainment and Noah Heller, vice president, emerging technology at Hulu addressed the new frontier of leveraging virtual entertainment to give fans unprecedented access into the worlds of top artists both on and off stage.

    Mike Parker, president, iCrossing moderated an afternoon Storytellers panel with executives from Bridgestone, PepsiCo and Whirpool Corp. to explore customer behavior driven by technology and innovation. Marketers need to manage the flow of data and leverage the analytics while learning more about their audiences. Brands will be challenged to maintain consistency with their stories, given the new tools coming into the market.

    Rounding out the Storyteller sessions, President of Verizon Digital Media Services Ralf Jacob talked with leading content creators about how OTT strategies and technologies have enabled them to engage audiences and further drive opportunities. The goal isn’t to get the most clicks, but to keep their audiences coming back, increasing page time and sharing information with the brand. Engaging new users presents a gamble because marketers are forced to use new strategies with little data.

    Sports Business Innovation
    David Levy, president of Turner, kicked off the Sports Business Innovation Conference Track on Thursday. Panelists included WNBA player Sue Bird, NBA analyst Grant Hill, NCAA President Dr. Mark Emmert, and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver. The panel, moderated by Turner Sports Sportscaster Ernie Johnson, covered a number of topics related to technology’s effect on professional sports. Seven-time NBA All-Star Grant Hill put it best, “We are all connected. Not just in how you interact with fans, but how you manage your body.”

    The three subsequent panels examined topics varying from an athlete’s life outside of sports, the challenges of, and strategies for, consumer engagement and the massive opportunity presented by the growing popularity of eSports. Participants included Chris Bosh of the NBA’s Miami Heat; Draymond Green of the NBA’s Golden State Warriors and Dexter Fowler’s of Major League Baseball’s St. Louis Cardinals, as well as executives from Bleacher Report, Dell and Ford.

    To round things out, Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Commissioner Roundtable Session was moderated by Julie Kearney of CTA with panelists FCC Commissioners Mignon Clyburn, Mike O’Rielly and Ajit Pai and FTC Commissioners Maureen Ohlhausen and Terrell McSweeny. FCC Commissioners kicked off the panel with broad agreement on the ongoing broadcast spectrum incentive auction, each commenting they are optimistic the incentive spectrum auction will succeed and make resources more efficient. The FTC Commissioners identified ongoing issues for data privacy and security for consumers with IoT, but stressed that any approach to regulating should be flexible enough to promote innovation.

    Thursday also featured the Stuff Wearable Tech Awards, highlighting the 10 best wearables coming to market. The full list of award winners and honorees can be found at Stuff.tv.