Getting Ready for CES 2017

Over the last few weeks I have been doing something I have never done before - getting ready for CES in Las Vegas.

Although I have watched and written about CES over the years, I have never attended the sprawling event in person and this year I will be there hands on and knee deep into all the venues, press conferences, and product demos. I am very excited about getting out there and experiencing this for the first time.

I guess the first thing that has caught me off guard is the sheer amount of email from various companies inviting me to their suites or booths for product demos, briefs, and interviews. I currently have an Outlook folder labeled CES 2017 and it contains more than 500 emails that I have received leading up to the event. Needless to say, I'm not going to everything -- there are only so many hours in the day.

Speaking of scheduling meetings and booth visits. I arrive on Tuesday, the 3rd of January around lunchtime and will be leaving on the 7th on a redeye back to Florida. That means I have four days for meetings/events (Tuesday through Saturday). Since the venues are spread across Las Vegas, I have worked to keep all of my meetings each day in the same venue to minimize the travel between sites.  I will also be attending two very popular events among press attendees - Showstoppers and Pepcom - plus I will be at CES Unveiled and the China Information Technology Expo events.

As for the various press conferences, I will be attending those put on by LG, Panasonic, and Samsung so expect me to be live tweeting about those events on Twitter (@WinObs). They will all be held on the 4th of January.

Among my one on one meetings, I will be spending time with these companies and their new products:

I have purposefully not filled every minute of my schedule because I am blocking off time to wander the show floor in each venue location and look for other interesting products and services. My main focus is looking for consumer related products that integrate into your digital life.

At CES 2017 there are three main show venues/areas, including all of the company suites and events in various area hotels, that host the vast majority of exhibitors.

Tech East

Today's technology continues to expand and transform our daily lives. Tech East is the home for innovations ranging from vehicle technology to all things "i."

Tech West

Witness the powerhouses and rising influencers who are shaping the future of technology and everyday life. From revolutions in robotics to expansions in fitness and technology, discover the next wave of innovations set to change the world at Tech West.

Tech South

It's where content, creativity and technology converge through show floor exhibits, demos in private suites and conference sessions. It's where the influencers in advertising, content, entertainment and marketing discuss what’s now and what’s next.

These are the areas I will check out and bring you snapshots of these new products and services. Expect the coverage to range from videos, brief introductions, and commentary on social media.

Luckily, throughout all of my preparations I have been assisted by my trusty editor, Lisa Schmeiser, a veteran of CES who will also be in Las Vegas as we cover this event together.

It should promise to be a crazy hectic week and I can not wait to get started!

So in closing, here are the best places to keep an eye on us during CES 2017 for all our coverage:

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But, wait...there's probably more so be sure to follow me on Twitter and Google+.