Did Vegas just host the Consumer Electrical Show?

Posted by tED magazine on Friday, January 27, 2012

By Joe Salimando

With 153,000 attendees on the look-out for the latest in consumer-tech geegaws, some might have been surprised by a heavy presence for…plain old electrical technologies on the huge show floor of the Consumer Electronics Show. Some snippets:

“Connected green tech” – slideshow of products (some “still in the concept stage”) displayed at CES, posted to the Electronic House magazine website.

Consumer electronics companies are muscling into Lighting with LEDs – (from Cnet.com) – RCA, Samsung, and Vizio are among the companies entering the LED bulb market.

EnergyBuddy intro – this energy-monitoring device, according to GreentechMedia.com “is a gateway that has a light on top to show you how you’re performing based on whatever criteria you choose: money spent, kilowatts used, etc. Besides a glowing gateway, it also comes with the requisite mobile apps, clamps to attach to your meter (if it’s not smart) and smart plugs.”

Green innovations – highlights of press info on CES introductions thought relevant to green advocates, as written up on a GreenBiz.com blog. Includes: Kia, Panasonic, Samsung.

Home automation guide to CES – Julie Jacobson of CE Pro magazine wrote up this “complete guide to home automation vendors…including energy management, lighting controls, remote monitoring, whole-house control, and more.” Appears on two web pages.

Home networks – one of a number of blogs and articles posted to PCWorld.com from CES. See the item Home Networks Get New Options – or start on page 1 (of 5) of the site’s numerous items from the event.

“Largest gadget ever” – CleanTechnica.com reported that the “largest gadget ever” displayed at CES was the Reliant Smarter Home on Wheels. Reliant is a retail electricity unit of NRG. See screen shot below of CES photos from NRG on Flickr; there are lots more.

LED lightbulb is “wireless” – well, not really (still needs electric power!). TheVerge.com reported on it (with a video also on the page): 

“Japanese company Fujikom is at CES 2012 for the introduction of the world's first Z-Wave wireless light bulb capable of emitting about 20,000 colors. The 880-lumen bulb is equivalent to a traditional 60 watt bulb and fits in a standard socket without customization.

“It's rated at an impressive 40,000 hours, or about 4.5 years of continuous use — much longer in normal use. The bundled controller can independently dim and change the color of up to four bulbs, while the Fujikom smartphone and tablet apps can control up to 232 bulbs and even synchronize the lighting to music.”

See image below from Fujikom.com on “LeDenQ uses at business” (LeDenQ is the name of the product!).

Switch’s light bulb makes debut – Switch Lighting, described as “A California startup out to change the world,” somehow earned a more-than-glowing Agence France-Presse article about its debut at CES. Included:

The Silicon Valley company's bulb is touted as Earth-friendly from “cradle to cradle” and lasts about seven times longer than CFLs while providing the kind of light people like from incandescent. Switch bulbs have an artistic look akin to a snow glove perched on a silver pedestal. They can also survive a three-foot drop to a hardwood floor.”

Tracy Bilbrough is one of the company execs quoted in the piece. He’s the former CEO of Generation Brands and Juno Lighting, as noted in this 9/22/11 release on his hiring.