LAS VEGAS ― Internet connectivity in electronic devices was clearly a major theme for this year’s Consumer Electronics Show, according to Gary Shapiro, president and CEO of the Consumer Electronics Association.

His organization owns and is responsible for the production of CES, the world’s largest electronics tradeshow held in Las Vegas annually to a bustling crowd of eager buyers.

“In terms of trends, obviously the connection to the Internet through broadband with all devices, both new and existing products,” Shapiro said during the show.

“You will see the Internet across all categories including connected TVs and in-vehicle market.”

“Smart” ― the term most used as a synonym to describe Internet-connected devices ― has indeed been the buzzword in the IT industry in recent years, the craze ignited by the launch of smartphones and tablet computers. 

Television-makers have caught the contagious “smart” bug, and so has the automobile industry, which is now clamoring to create smarter cars that can download and utilize smartphone applications.

Shapiro also acknowledged the strong presence of 3-D products ― particularly TVs ― but was guarded on assessment.

More growth was expected for 3-D TVs, but consumers have yet to catch up on the concept, he pointed out. Comfortable 3-D eyewear is another challenge TV makers will have to cope with, as industry watchers believe many viewers dislike wearing the ill-fitting and expensive glasses required for 3-D vision.

Tablets ― portable, mini-sized computers ― are also a part of the mega-IT trend, Shapiro said, noting that more than 80 kinds were on display this year.

More than 126,000 attendees and about 2,700 exhibitors turned out for this year’s show, according to the Consumer Electronics Association.

Among them, more than 22,000 were from outside the U.S., the association head said, reflecting the international flavor of the program,

“This is definitely one of our most exciting shows, if not our most exciting show in our history,” he said.

Shapiro has been with the Consumer Electronics Association for more than 30 years and has received the Pinnacle Award, cited as the highest achievement in the exhibition industry.

His association is a non-profit trade association of around 2,000 U.S. companies that manufacture and sell technology products.

Shapiro recently authored “The Comeback: How Innovation Will Restore the American Dream,” a book on how to revitalize the U.S. economy. 

By Kim Ji-hyun (jemmie@heraldcorp.com)

(Korea Herald correspondent)