Defining word at CES — innovation

The defining word of the 2012 International Consumer Electronics Show is innovation.

The convention officially opened Tuesday with keynote addresses from Consumer Electronics Association President and CEO Gary Shapiro and from Qualcomm CEO Paul Jacobs.

Shapiro and Jacobs each emphasized innovation, both in the products being unveiled at this year's show and in the effects of technology in our lives.

It's a broad topic, to be sure, but Shapiro said technology innovations have led to far-reaching change in every realm of the human experience, from changing industries to a changing of the guard in nations such as Egypt and Libya.

"Our industry has a unique opportunity and, I believe, a unique responsibility, to use our global reach to improve lives," Shapiro said.

A discussion of innovation would be remiss without mentioning the late Steve Jobs, former CEO of Apple. In his opening remarks, Shapiro said the tech industry lost one of its greatest innovators when Jobs died Oct. 5.

On the CES show floor at the Las Vegas Convention Center, which opened at 10 a.m. Tuesday, innovations abound. The Consumer Electronics Association today said 3,100 exhibitors in 15 product categories are showcasing the latest gadgets and accessories, up from 2,865 companies last year.

Attendees will also find 20 tech zones, themed areas that highlight trends in consumer technology. Shapiro said health care, higher education, safe driver and mobile technology are categories to watch this year.

Qualcomm is sponsoring the Wireless Mobility tech zone on the show floor. Both Shapiro and Jacobs spoke extensively about the effects of mobile connectivity on people in developing countries.

"Mobile is changing the way people connect, compute. This is apparent in emerging countries, where mobile is helping to fuel innovation and dramatic growth," Shapiro said.

Again, the key word: innovation.

In 2011, wireless industry revenues reached $1.3 trillion, Jacobs said.

Mobile technology company Qualcomm, known for supplying the processors that power many of the world's phones and tablet computers, used its keynote to emphasize its work in education, health care and finance.

Qualcomm in the last fiscal year invested $3 billion in research and development. The company is working to "extend benefits of mobile to people everywhere" with its "Wireless Reach" initiative, Jacobs said.

"Mobile is the largest technology platform in history. That's no hype," Jacobs said.

There are more than 6 billion wireless connections worldwide, almost half of which have 3G capability. China alone is expected to pass 1 billion mobile connections this year, Jacobs said.

Mobile technology makes connectivity easier in developed countries, Jacobs said, but for people in emerging countries, it is often the only way to connect.

Qualcomm is working with device manufacturers to drive down the cost of smartphones. Jacobs said he expects about half of all smartphones to shift toward emerging countries by 2015, requiring more "price-sensitive" options.

Qualcomm is working with Nokia on lower-priced phones.

The company also showcased some of its health care and education partnerships, like its collaboration with Sesame Workshop on Vuforia technology, which turns children's toys into intelligent objects with a tablet camera.

Qualcomm also announced plans to invest $100 million in a wireless health fund. One of its partners, Scripps Health, presented gadgets like a watch that track vital signs and an iPhone attachment that displays the user's cardiogram on the home screen.

To inspire innovation in the greater tech community, the Qualcomm Foundation has partnered with the X Prize Foundation to offer $10 million to the winning team in its Star Trek-inspired tricorder competition. The task: design a fun, easy-to-use device that consumers use to diagnose themselves without the help of a doctor.

Who knows? The winner may appear at a future CES keynote to discuss (what else?) innovation.

Contact reporter Caitlin McGarry at cmcgarry@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-5273. Follow her on Twitter at @Caitlin_McGarry