i3 - January/February 2018 - 4

Editor's Note

The Promise
of Tech
2018

PRESIDENT AND CEO

Gary Shapiro

SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT

Jeff Joseph

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

CES is the most exciting four days of the
year in the tech universe. And 2018 promises
to unleash a bundle of new innovations.
Get ready to be inspired. Energy, passion,
networking and new ideas fuel CES.

 O 

f course, we all look forward
to seeing what the next big
thing will be, and there is
no better place to gauge
the temperature of the industry than
Eureka Park, packed full of 800 entrepreneurial companies with visions they
want to share with investors, partners
and the media. CES gives us a firsthand look at the latest prototypes,
devices, apps and services that will
soon be in retail stores.

In this issue, we provide a glimpse
of the vitality at CES Unveiled Las
Vegas - the onsite preview for media
at CES. And our special section on
the 2018 Innovation Award Honorees
includes the Best of Innovation award
winners who are showcasing the cutting-edge technologies on the way.
Our CES edition is full of articles to
spur new ideas and business plans.
For example, how are businesses
incorporating artificial intelligence to
improve their offerings? Our feature
explains how AI will benefit consumers
as firms transform from being productcentric to customer-centric. And with
more than 385 million fans worldwide,
esports has grown from a pastime to
a global sensation. At the CES Sports
Zone, presented by Turner Sports, see
professional video game players with
huge global followings and brands.
Shopping is also becoming an
immersive experience thanks to the
integration of augmented and virtual
reality into products like makeup mirrors, self-assisted commerce robots
and digital displays. Retailers are experimenting with the latest tech to attract
shoppers with brand new offerings.
And as automakers vow to deliver
4

I T I S I N N OVAT I O N

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018

self-driving vehicles in the next few
years, they also are pursuing electrification. To get there, plug-in hybrids may
serve as the bridge. Tech innovations
are also making a global impact to
better our world and improve lives
of global citizens and, in some cases,
endangered animals.
This CES issue also looks at
smart homes, connected health
and how advertisers are using blockchain. Also, Chairman and CEO of
Panasonic Corporation of North
America, Tom Gebhardt tells us how
the company is transforming itself
as it celebrates its 100th business anniversary. See what the future holds for
this innovative company focused on
developing smart cities.
In our policy section, see the issues
likely to impact the industry in 2018
and what will fuel self-driving cars.
Read why a new NAFTA agreement
needs strong digital protections and
get to know Federal Communications
Commission Chairman Agit Pai,
who shares some personal anecdotes.
He is participating on a policy panel
at CES along with the FCC Commissioners. And as a preview of the
Influencer Studio, i3 chatted with three
executives as they discuss the future
of content. Visit C Space at Aria to hear
from industry experts.
See you at CES where technology
is helping to solve the world's biggest
challenges. Please send comments
to cstevens@CTA.tech.

Cindy Loffler Stevens
MANAGING EDITOR

Mark Chisholm

EDITORIAL ASSISTANT

Jeremy Snow

DIRECTOR,
MARKETING

MANAGER,
CREATIVE DIRECTION

SENIOR CREATIVE
MANAGER

ADVERTISING MANAGEMENT

Jenni Moyer

John Lindsey

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Ian Shields

Matt Patchett
Oleg Burdo

CIRCULATION
MANAGER

Gretchen Mitchler

EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS

Gary Arlen, Alan Breznick, Robert Calem, Jack Cutts, John Gaudiosi,
Steve Koenig, Natalie Hope McDonald, Allan Richter,
Ron Schneiderman, Steve Smith, Susan Schreiner, Murray Slovick
EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD

Kari Aakre, Intel; Dave Arland, Arland Communications;
Sally Washlow, Cobra; Peter Brinkman, Casio; Gabriele Collier,
HDMI; Kristen Cook, BDS Marketing; Danielle Deabler, NPR Labs;
John Dunstan, Netgear; Sean Durkin, Dolby Laboratories Inc.;
Peter Fannon, Panasonic/Matsushita; Bill Kircos, Intel; Bill Leebens,
LM&M; Chris Loncto, Sharp Electronics Corp.; Daniel Pidgeon,
Starpower; Jim Reilly, Panasonic; David Steel, Samsung;
John Taylor, LG Electronics
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ASSOCIATE CREATIVE DIRECTOR

PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGY

Courtney Eltringham

Cheryl Beaver,
Andy Gulczynski

SENIOR DESIGNER

Eric Anderson
PHOTO EDITOR

Leah Rudolfo

SENIOR
PROJECT MANAGER

Wesley Bresette

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networking, wireless communication, information technology and multimedia
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Address responses to: It Is Innovation (i3), Consumer Technology Association,
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Cindy Loffler Stevens,
Editor-in-Chief
I T I S I N N O VAT I O N
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i3 - January/February 2018

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