CES Unveiled
January 6th, 2010Best of British at CES Unveiled 2010
January 5th, 2010
Gadget-mad Brits aren’t just buying more technology every year, they’re inventing it. Communication, health and security are among the hot topics being tackled in innovations by British tech companies on show at CES Unveiled, the pre-event media showcase at the world’s largest technology event.
This collection of bright, young, British businesses is a snapshot of the industry at its best. Each of the ten tech companies – chosen by UK Trade & Investment, the government body promoting British business in international markets – shows how British companies are coming up with solutions to a wide range of global problems. As winners of a UKTI competition, they will exhibit in Las Vegas at CES Unveiled on 5 January.
Communication the world over will benefit from British inventions like the trueCall, which protects owners from nuisance phonecalls, and picoChip’s femtocell technology, which boosts 3G mobile phone signals, improving coverage and call quality.
Health is another issue being tackled by innovative British tech companies. Mediche’s Life One uses the latest mobile technology and an online database to help people with diabetes manage their condition. Meanwhile Ocean Blue will be showcasing its Talking TV text-to-speech software for the visually impaired.
Homes and gadgets are also being managed via new British technology. PassivEnergy from PassivSystems uses sensors around the home to update an online energy management system that can dramatically improve energy efficiency. While the security of data rich gadgets like smart phones and PDAs is improved with the nio Bluetooth alarm from TenBu Technologies.
In no particular order, the ten companies supported by UKTI at CES Unveiled are:
1. PassivSystems – Creators of online home energy management systems that can dramatically improve a household’s energy efficiency
2. Ocean Blue - Digital TV software specialists, launching world’s first Talking TV text-to-speech software for TVs and set top boxes, for the visually impaired. This has been developed in conjunction with the RNIB.
3. Mediche – Creator of the Life One diabetes management system, combining insulin injection technology and mobile communications with an online database
4. Orbitsound – Innovative loudspeaker design and manufacturing company showcasing its patented airSOUND technology for stereo sound from a single speaker
5. Truecall – The company behind trueCall, a product that blocks nuisance phone calls and found fame on Dragon’s Den
6. Sontia Logic – Developers of next-generation audio software that improves sound quality to match high definition video
7. picoChip – pioneer of femtocell technology, home base stations that boost 3G phone signals and improve coverage and call quality
8. ProVision – Creator of the world’s first consumer electronics technology capable of wirelessly streaming live high definition video throughout even the largest home
9. Datawind – Developer of wireless web access products including the Ubisurfer and PocketSurfer
10. TenBu Technologies – The company behind nio, a Bluetooth-enabled alarm that protects smart phones and other mobile devices from loss or theft.
Steve Williams, Head of Key Events at UKTI’s ICT team, explains that the UKTI competition was designed to highlight the fantastic work being done in the British technology industry, and to support those businesses that are ready to broaden their horizons beyond the UK. ‘It was a pleasure to see entries from so many British companies who are all ready to compete on an international level. We’re very proud to be supporting the winning companies, all of whom are deserving representatives of the thriving UK technology industry.’
News from UKTI at CES Winner: ProVision – wireless high definition video for even the biggest home
January 5th, 2010
British company ProVision is ready for market with high definition video streaming tech that has a range three times the size of Buckingham Palace
Unique British technology that wirelessly streams live high definition video throughout even the largest home is being showcased at CES Unveiled by Bristol-based ProVision. With a distribution radius of over 900ft, the AXAR1500 is a world first, capable of streaming live HD content across an area of more than 2.5 million square feet – three times the floor space of Buckingham Palace.
ProVision previewed its AXAR (Across All Rooms) technology at CES in 2009. This year, the ProVision team returns with a product that’s ready for market.
The AXAR1500 wirelessly streams high definition TV throughout every room in a home or office, over a standard Wi Fi connection. As well as stored video and catch-up TV, AXAR allows live, full-speed HD coverage to be viewed anywhere in the home, on any device capable of playing video. TVs simply plug into an AXAR receiver, while laptops and PCs need only the relevant software to get started. An app for mobiles means that your phone can also be used to view content live, anywhere in the home. Crucially for commercial partners, the latest AXAR solution also comes with DRM (digital rights management) protection, so the service is ready for UK and international markets.
The ProVision team believe that AXAR’s ‘astounding‘ video quality and excellent range will make AXAR an industry standard at CES 2010.
For more information or for interviews with Steve Cliffe, CEO of ProVision, please contact live@beamagency.com
News from UKTI at CES Winner: picoChip – British company aims to boost burdened 3G network
January 5th, 2010
Industry pioneer picoChip targets major network operators with femtocell technology, which will deliver landline quality to mobile phones
Innovative British technology that improves 3G mobile phone coverage and call quality is being showcased at CES Unveiled by Bath-based picoChip. As 3G networks feel the strain of increasing traffic from smart phones, this pioneering technology will benefit users in cities and remote areas alike.
The femtocell is a small base station that plugs into a broadband connection, at home or elsewhere. Calls made from nearby mobiles bypass the existing 3G network and benefit from landline quality. picoChip is the creator of the chips used in these femtocells, which are the only real answer for mobile users indoors. Femtocells are equally useful in rural areas, built-up cities or underground, or anywhere where the 3G signal is limited.
Rupert Baines, VP of Marketing at picoChip, explains why the femtocell is such an important innovation: ‘The potential for this technology is huge,’ explains Rupert. ‘By plugging directly into a standard broadband connection and carrying traffic back via the internet, femtocells offer a boost to already crowded networks. As well as improving the quality of your signal – the radio link only has to go from your mobile to the femtocell in your building, rather than from your mobile to the network basestation – the technology takes the pressure off the 3G network, which now has a huge amount of data to deal with.’
For more information or for interviews with Rupert Baines, VP of Marketing at picoChip, please contact live@beamagency.com
News from UKTI at CES Winner: Sontia Logic – British company creates the ‘HD’ of audio
January 5th, 2010
Sontia Logic aims to bridge the divide that has emerged between audio and visual technologies, creating high-quality sound to match HD visuals
British company Sontia Logic will bring “high definition” to audio with new sound processing software being showcased at CES Unveiled. Sound quality will at last match the latest developments in high definition and 3D televisions.
Sontia’s software can produce superior audio performance in all kinds of products, from iPod docks to flat-screen TVs. Founder and CEO Chris Vernon, who spent many years as a recording engineer and performing musician as well as music lecturer at Sir George Martin’s national music academy, aims to bring a ‘big-screen sound’ to the home using patented audio technologies with a focus on ‘organic’ sound processing techniques.
With support from respected industry figures, Sontia believes that theirs is the technology that will close the gap between visual and audio technologies. From serious hi-fi separates and home cinema systems to budget iPod docks, sound can be dramatically improved.
For more information or for interviews with Chris Vernon, founder and CEO of Sontia Logic, please contact live@beamagency.com
News from UKTI at CES Winner: PassivSystems – Setting the standard for a new way of living
January 5th, 2010
Home energy management from PassivSystems ensures most efficient use of energy, cutting household bills by learning how people live and only using energy when it is needed.
A brand new British company that aims to dramatically improve home energy efficiency is launching at CES. Newbury-based PassivSystems will showcase its pioneering PassivEnergy home energy management system.
Set to be available from March 2010, PassivEnergy connects via sensors to your heating, hot water and electrical appliances, and monitors activity via an individual online account. By learning about your regular movements, the intelligent control system will then ensure that you make the most efficient use of energy possible, only using services such as hot water when you need them. PassivEnergy automatically makes the most efficient use of energy throughout the home and doesn’t make extra work for the user.
‘Everyone wants lower energy costs but few people have enough time in the day to become their home’s ‘energy manager’. Simply giving people more information about energy consumption is not a solution,’ explains Colin Calder, CEO, PassivSystems. ‘PassivEnergy sets a standard for a new way of living. By incorporating our technology into their existing home setup, consumers can dramatically reduce energy waste and cut their household bills at the same time, all with minimal effort on their part. In future, legislation will require consumers’ homes to be more energy efficient – PassivEnergy is an easy, inexpensive way for people to cut energy wastage and energy bills without huge changes to the way they live.’
For more information or for interviews with Colin Calder, CEO of PassivSystems, please contact live@beamagency.com
CES kicks off
January 5th, 2010
It’s a beautiful day here in Las Vegas and CES, the world’s leading consumer electronics show is about to start.
Speculation is already high about potential announcements, with the technology industry anticipating the next big trends – from innovations like 3D TV and films, to technological advances with USB 3.0 and OLED notebooks – not to mention the industry gossip around Google’s smartphone. The end of 2009 was rife with rumours about Apple’s tablet too, and in the run up to CES the press were quick to forecast products from Palm, Sony and Microsoft, among others. But there’s not long to wait now until the industry’s best kept secrets are revealed, with the show officially opening on Thursday and a great deal of news expected to be announced over the coming week.
Tonight (Tuesday) will see the first of the media showcase events, CES Unveiled, the official press event of CES. Exhibitors at CES Unveiled will include the winners of UKTI’s competition, showcasing and demonstrating the best of British invention and innovation.
And of course, the UK media will be doing a sterling job of keeping us up to date with the latest from the event. Check out these great sites for updates and news:
The show is set to be the biggest yet, and we can’t wait to see what’s revealed this week.
Working with UKTI: Kablamm at CES 2009
January 5th, 2010
UKTI has taken many inspiring and promising British companies to showcase their technology at CES Unveiled. One of these is Kablamm, creators of ‘hi-impact technology solutions’ – and makers of robots – who were one of the winners in UKTI’s CES Unveiled competition in 2009. They were showcasing their MechRC Shadowstalker, a programmable robot that can perform complex movements (even dance routines).
Creative Director, Dr Jim Wyatt, thinks that the opportunity to showcase their technology at CES Unveiled was ‘great’ for Kablamm and the Shadowstalker. ‘It was superb,’ he says, ‘We got a huge amount of media opportunities and exposure. Being interviewed by Sky News the day before the show actually opened meant that we were one of the first big stories to come out of CES – in fact, when you Googled ‘CES News’, ours was the first image on the page.’
Kablamm had been involved with UKTI after learning that grants for CES and other trade shows were available for British companies. ‘For a start up like us,’ he explained ‘that’s really very useful.’ In dealing with UKTI he was advised about the CES Unveiled competition, and soon the Kablamm team found themselves in UKTI’s top ten winning companies for 2009. As well as meeting one of their current distributors through the show, they have met a host of other companies interested in developing their technologies; so much so, they are now in the process of establishing a Los Angeles arm of the business.
Perhaps most surprising of all, the trip to CES Unveiled even took Jim to Hollywood, for an appearance on the silver screen – following the media exposure of CES, he and his technology appeared in the hit movie Surrogates. And on top of that, Jim is currently developing four TV shows, for pitching in January. It goes to show that the possibilities and opportunities that can come from CES Unveiled are unexpected and endless.
UKTI AT CES WINNERS’ DAY
December 31st, 2009
Find out about the UKTI at CES winners and what they hope to achieve from CES 2010
TOP TIPS FOR CES 2010
December 24th, 2009
If you’re new to CES – or your last visit is something of a blur – take a look at our top tips for CES. They’ll help you to get the most out of your visit, whatever you’re hoping to find at the show.
Plan your day
With more than 2,700 exhibitors and over 100,000 attendees, the Consumer Electronics Show is a busy and sprawling place. Whether you’re buying, selling or just looking, make sure you know exactly where to find all the things you want to see – it can take a good half hour or more to get from one end of the conference to another, so make sure you’ve got your day mapped out.
Don’t forget the shuttle
Avoid hefty cab fares and heavy traffic by taking the CES shuttle, a complimentary service running between the Las Vegas Convention Centre and official CES hotels. As well as being the easiest way to get around, it’s a great way to meet some interesting characters attending the show.
CES Unveiled
Anyone looking for breaking technology news will find what they’re looking for at CES Unveiled. This pre-event media showcase takes place on 5 January this year, and regularly sets the mood for the Consumer Electronics Show.
Take in some Supersessions
It’s not all about trawling the exhibition floor looking for brands that inspire you – CES features free sessions which will give you the broader perspective on industry matters from social media to fighting the economic downturn. With expert speakers, these sessions are a fantastic opportunity to listen and learn.
Be curious
Yes, CES is huge, but don’t be daunted. Enjoy winding methodically around the halls – some of the most interesting and unexpected companies and products can be found not in most obvious places but around the edges of the show. Don’t be afraid to explore the obscure. At the same time…
Be ruthless
…while keeping an open mind, be conscious of what you’re looking for. You could spend hours browsing stands that are nice, but completely irrelevant to you. If you’re not inspired, move on – there’s plenty more to see.
Use social media to keep up to speed
There are lots of ways to keep on top of the latest CES news – make sure you check out the CES Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and LinkedIn channels, which will give you some essential pointers on must-see events throughout the show.
Visit the UKTI stand at CES Unveiled
UK Trade & Investment is the government body responsible for promoting British business abroad, and this year the team is taking ten UK tech companies to exhibit at CES Unveiled. Visit the UK Technology stand (Central Hall 14729), and get a feel for the innovation currently going on within the British technology industry. You can even take part in their series of networking events, where you’ll be able to meet the companies flying the flag for Great Britain out in Las Vegas. Places are limited though, so email ces@tradefair.co.uk to reserve your spot.
Have fun
CES is perhaps the most vibrant, exciting, inspiring and outrageous technology trade show in the world. Don’t forget it, even when you’re running on four hours sleep and your feet are begging you to stop. You’ll meet incredible people from across the globe, and hear from world experts about the topics that interest you most; you’ll find technologies you never knew existed, and you’ll get to soak up a little of the Las Vegas nightlife too. So enjoy yourself – and remember, you can sleep it off when you get home.
