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Tag: CEA

  • TCS and CEA join forces to give robotics a ‘physical AI’ makeover

    TCS and CEA join forces to give robotics a ‘physical AI’ makeover

    MUMBAI: When brains meet brawn, the robots of tomorrow are born. Tata consultancy services (TCS) and french research giant CEA have struck a partnership to fast-track the rise of physical AI, a field that blends artificial intelligence with robotics to create machines that can see, sense, and interact with the real world.

    Announced on 9 September in Paris and Mumbai, the alliance promises to take AI out of the cloud and into the factory floor, warehouses, and even social spaces. From versatile robots that adapt to new tasks, to human-friendly cobots for safer shop floors, and assistive bots that provide personal support, the collaboration is setting out to make robots less science fiction and more industrial reality.

    “By connecting cutting-edge research with business needs, we can invent the intelligent systems of tomorrow,” said CEA-list, director, Alexandre Bounouh pointing to how physical AI could transform production chains and boost European competitiveness.

    The deal will see TCS bring its global scale and deep sector expertise together with CEA’s research muscle, including breakthroughs ranging from brain-controlled exoskeletons to AI for self-driving cars. Together, they plan to offer proof-of-concepts, training, and real-world deployments, with support anchored in the TCS pace port Paris innovation hub.

    TCS France, managing director, Rammohan Gourneni called the partnership a “key step” in helping industries embrace physical AI. “It combines the power of AI with the intelligence of physical systems, supporting our clients’ industrial transformation,” he said.

    For TCS, which has been in France since 1992 and works with 18 cac40 companies, the partnership underscores its long-term commitment to the French tech ecosystem. For CEA, it marks another leap in its leadership role on Europe’s robotics roadmap.

  • Majority of American viewers still prefer TV to other mediums: Study

    Majority of American viewers still prefer TV to other mediums: Study

    NEW DELHI: Television remains the “key” viewer for video in American homes, but video is increasingly coming from the internet which is taking some toll on traditional distribution.

     

    That is one of the conclusions of a new market research analysis by the Consumer Electronics Association.

     

    According to a report given out by the National Association of Broadcasters in the United States, 45 per cent of TV households reported getting some programming on their TVs via internet (from Netflix or Hulu, for example), up a whopping 17 percentage points from 2013’s 28 per cent.

     

    Nearly half of TV households (46 per cent) also watched video on a portable computer (laptop, notebook or netbook), up from 38 per cent in 2013, or on a smartphone (43 per cent, up from 33 per cent in 2013), or on either a tablet (35 per cent, up from 26 per cent in 2013) or a desktop computer (34 per cent, up from 30 per cent in 2013).

     

    Consumers who said they receive internet-based programming are also doing so on other devices, including gaming consoles (50 per cent), Blu-ray players (40 per cent) and services such as Apple TV or Roku (33 per cent).

     

    But internet-only viewers are still a small fraction at 5 per cent, about the same as 2013.

     

    That number could be growing. CEA says that according to figures as of January 2014, 24 per cent of all households had an internet-enabled TV, with 16.1 million app-enabled TVs projected to ship this year.

     

    The vast majority of U.S. households (93 per cent) have used TVs to access video in the past 12 months. Traditional TV programming is primarily accessed through a pay-TV service, with cable claiming half (52 per cent) of that subscriber base with 60 million subs, down from 63 million in 2013.

     

    Satellite services boast 36 million households (31 per cent), up from 35 million in 2013. Fiber to the home video services account for 14 per cent or 16 million subs, up 33 per cent from 12 million in 2013.

     

    17 per cent of TV households receive television programming through an antenna, with only 6 per cent relying exclusively on an antenna for their TV, in line with 2013 findings.

     

    CEA says there has been a seven percentage point decline in the number of homes using traditional pay-TV platforms since 2010, when 88 per cent of households said they subscribed to cable, satellite or fiber to the home. And since 2005, says CEA, cable service subs have declined from 61 per cent to 52 per cent in 2014. Even with the increases over that time for fiber and satellite, total paid subs are still down.

     

    “The decline in traditional pay TV service may be partially attributed to increasingly accessible internet sourced television programming on TVs as well as the adoption and use of alternative video-capable CE devices in homes,” said the report. “Inexpensive streaming options, such as Netflix and Hulu Plus, are also contributing to the overall decline.”

     

    The numbers appear to bear that out. Over the past 12 months, in homes not subscribing to pay TV, “non-subscriber use of notebook, laptop or netbook computers to view video content increased from a quarter (25 per cent) in 2013 to over half (53 per cent) in 2014. Use of smartphones for in-home video consumption increased among non-subscribers from 27 per cent in 2013 to 46 per cent this year, and 27 per cent of non-subscribers now view video content on tablets compared to just 13 per cent in 2013.”

     

    The CEA report found that 10 per cent of pay TV households currently subscribing to cable, satellite or fiber video services said they were “likely” to cut that cord in the next 12 months. Of those, 23 per cent said they were going the all-internet route, with 20 per cent saying they would be getting an antenna and 17 per cent said they were swearing off video entirely.

     

    The report is based on findings of a telephone survey of 1,006 adults, 504 men and 502 women 18 and older, living in the continental United States. The survey was conducted between 24 and 27 April, with 606 landline interviews and 400 by cell phone. The margin of error at 95 per cent confidence is +/- 3.1 per cent. 

  • CEA applauds New York Court ruling in Viacom Youtube copyright suit

    CEA applauds New York Court ruling in Viacom Youtube copyright suit

    MUMBAI: The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) in the US has said that New York throwing out Viacom‘s lawsuit against Youtube is a win for Internet freedom.

    CEA senior VP, government and regulatory affairs Michael Petricone said, “Today‘s ruling is a win for Internet freedom and the innovation ecosystem. In this ruling, the Court rightly recognized the importance of safe harbors established under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, without which many Internet-based businesses would not be viable.”

    YouTube he added is part of the fabric of daily life for millions of lawful Americans. “It offers exposure to new and upcoming artists, and provides content owners with a vast promotional and advertising platform. We urge the content industry to cease its litigation against YouTube and other new technologies, and embrace the innovative products and services that Americans want and enjoy.”

    The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) is a trade association promoting growth in the $209 billion US consumer electronics industry.

  • US consumers embrace built-in features in HDTVs: CEA Study

    US consumers embrace built-in features in HDTVs: CEA Study

    MUMBAI: Consumers in the US are using the built-in features on their HDTV at a high rate, with an increasing number gaining access to Web-enabled content directly through their televisions.

    More than one in five US adults owns a smart app-enabled HDTV and almost all (90 per cent) use the apps available on their displays in some capacity.

    In addition, more than four in ten HDTV owners connect their primary displays to the Internet, with 76 per cent connecting at least one external device with smart app capabilities to their primary displays. Half of all HDTV owners connect a video game console or a DVD/Blu-ray player to their primary displays. Smart app users are most likely to stream video content from the Internet (61 per cent), browse the Internet (56 per cent) and view pictures (54 per cent) using smart apps on their televisions.

    Consumers are also looking for displays with built-in Wi-Fi and Internet browsing when purchasing a new HDTV, which trail only high-quality audio and video as the most important purchase factors of HDTVs. Approximately one in three consumers plans to purchase a new HDTV within the next 12 months.

    Another way many consumers are experiencing Web-enabled content for HDTV is through a second screen on a portable connected device. Social networking is the most common activity on the second screen. Among HDTV owners who also own a tablet, two-thirds (67 per cent) use their tablets for social networking while watching TV. Among HDTV owners who also own a smartphone, more than half (58 per cent) are using a social network on that device while watching TV.

    CEA senior research analyst Kevin Tillmann said, “We are living in an app-dominated world, whether it’s on your smartphone, tablet or television. Consumers want access to their apps at all times and they will use whatever device, TVs included, that offer the best and most convenient user experience.”

    As 3D becomes a more common feature on HDTVs sold in the US, consumers have not only become more aware of the technology, but, according to the study, they are also beginning to embrace it. Today, 21 per cent of US homes own at least one 3D-enabled television. CEA’s most recent U.S. Consumer Electronics Sales and Forecast shows that unit sales of 3D televisions will reach an estimated 5.6 million in 2012, representing 18 per cent of total TV sales, up from eight per cent of total TV sales in 2011.

    Nearly half (42 per cent) of 3D-capable HDTV owners watch five or more hours of 3D content a week. By comparison, three-quarters (75 per cent) of 3DTV owners watch more than five hours of 2D content on their 3DTV a week. However, one in ten (nine per cent) report watching more than 15 hours of 3D content a week.

    Movies are the most common content source for viewing 3D, with nearly half (48 per cent) of 3DTV owners having watched a 3D Blu-ray disc. Live programming (42 per cent) and video games (30 percent) are also popular sources of 3D content. Overall, two-thirds (68 percent) of 3DTV owners rate the visual experience of 3D programming as excellent or good.

    “Consumer interest in 3DTVs and 3D content continues to grow as ownership rates increase. Continuing to expand and innovate with 3D content will be extremely important for future usage and will continue to drive sales,” said Tillmann.

  • Consumer electronics revenues to be $209 bn in 2013: CEA

    Consumer electronics revenues to be $209 bn in 2013: CEA

    MUMBAI: Revenues for the consumer electronics (CE) industry are projected to grow nearly three per cent, reaching a new record-high of $209.6 billion, according to the semi-annual industry forecast released by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) in the US.

    The forecast also shows 2012 industry revenues reached $204 billion, up five per cent from the previous year. CEA President and CEO Gary Shapiro announced the forecast.

    He said, "Innovation fuels our economy and allows us to further economic growth and create jobs. There is no better place to see innovation than at the International CES, and the products on display this week will propel the CE industry to record levels in 2013."

    Mobile connected devices continue to drive industry growth:

    • Tablet computing will continue double-digit growth in 2013. Unit sales of tablets are projected to reach 116 million this year, up 45 per cent from 2012, when 80 million tablets were sold to dealers. Industry revenues for tablets are expected to surpass $37 billion this year, up from $31 billion in 2012.
    • Smartphones continue to be the primary revenue driver for the industry with growth projected to continue in 2013. Unit sales of smartphones are projected to reach 130 million this year, up from 111 million in 2012. Smartphone shipment revenues are expected to surpass $37 billion in 2013, up from $33 billion in 2012
    • Laptop/notebook computer sales will continue to rise as 26 million units are projected to be sold in 2013 accounting for $17 billion in revenue.

    CEA director of industry analysis Steve Koenig said,"CEA‘s forecast once again confirms that CE products play an increasingly indispensible role in consumers‘ lives. Consumer adoption of smartphones and tablets continues to expand briskly, as mobile connected devices take center stage in today‘s connected, digital lifestyle."

    There are a number of bright spots within the television category that are helping drive overall industry growth, despite total unit sales of displays falling slightly in 2013. Both unit sales and revenues for LCD displays are projected to increase this year. A record-high 30.4 million LCD TVs are expected to ship to dealers in 2013, resulting in more than $15 billion in revenue. Innovations within the display category continue to grow. Sales of TV sets with 3D functionality are projected to increase 39 percent to more than 5.7 million units in 2013. Internet-connected displays will also see strong growth this year, with unit sales reaching 12.3 million, up from 9.2 million in 2012.

    Elsewhere in the industry, a number of other categories are expected to see growth in 2013, including:

    • Audio: Soundbar shipments are projected to increase 22 percent to 2.2 million units.
    • Auto-sound: Aftermarket head units supporting Internet radio are projected to see sales nearly double, surpassing 2 million units.
    • Digital Imaging: Shipments of compact system cameras with interchangeable lenses are projected to grow 22 percent to 1.1 million units.
    • Set-Top Boxes: Network-enabled digital media set top box shipments are expected to hit 7.4 million units, a gain of 13 percent over 2012.
  • Cea heralds next phase of digital TV transition in the US

    Cea heralds next phase of digital TV transition in the US

    MUMBAI: The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) in the US is celebrating the arrival of the next phase of the historic digital television (DTV) transition.

    All products shipped with analog television tuners will also include a DTV tuner. The milestone marks the final phase-in of DTV tuners and comes as DTV industries and consumers prepare for all-digital broadcasting in February 2009.

    CEA president and CEO Gary Shapiro says, “The finish line for the transition to digital broadcasting is less than two years away, and the consumer electronics industry has reason to celebrate this latest milestone on the pathway to a successful transition.

    “As of 1 March, any product shipped with an analogue TV tuner will also include a DTV tuner, making access to the benefits of DTV a reality for more American consumers as these shipments reach the retail store shelf.”

     
    Shapiro explained that consumers are not required to purchase a new television in order to continue receiving programming after the DTV transition; owners of analog sets will be able to view broadcast television with a digital-to-analog converter box or through cable or satellite service. But in order to enjoy the full benefits of DTV – particularly high-definition television (HDTV) with its eye-popping pictures and digital surround sound – the consumer would want to purchase an HDTV.

    As part of CEA’s ongoing effort to help consumers understand the transition from analog to digital television, CEA’s Video Division Board adopted language last year for manufacturers and retailers to alert consumers purchasing an analog-only set that a digital converter box will be required as of February 17, 2009 for over-the-air reception.

    In a February 2007 letter to more than 600 retailers, Shapiro encouraged retailers to include the analog labeling language in product displays as an additional measure to ensure consumers are informed about how analog sets will receive over-the-air broadcasts after the transition. This voluntary labeling initiative is part of an industry-wide educational effort that supports a successful digital television transition. CEA also has a wealth of consumer DTV educational material available on www.myCEknowhow.com. This is a web destination for information on the digital television transition.

  • Portable MP3 player ownership reaches new high in the US

    Portable MP3 player ownership reaches new high in the US

    MUMBAI: A new study by global market research firm Ipsos indicates that as many as one in five Americans over the age of 12 now own portable MP3 Players and one in 20 own more than one.

    And interest in viewing music videos, photos, TV shows and even full-length movies from these devices is especially strong among younger consumers who have experience downloading music.

    New findings released today from Tempo, the company’s quarterly study of digital music behaviours, show that 20 per cent of Americans aged 12 and older now own a portable MP3 player. This marks a significant increase over ownership levels found one year ago (15 per cent), and nearly double the proportion of owners found in April 2003 (11 per cent). And in a sign that not only new buyers are driving this trend, 6 per cent of Americans own more than one portable MP3 player.

    Total headphone-MP3 sales reached $4.23 billion in 2005, according to the Consumer Electronics Association. These popular devices accounted for 85 percent of all factory-level portable audio sales last year, CEA statistics showed.

    Recent Tempo research also revealed some interesting demographic and diagnostic trends surrounding the use of Portable MP3 players.