More than 153,000 executives from every major industry - be it business, government, entertainment, automotive, consumer electronics across the globe converged at the 2012 International CES to feast their eyes on the latest technologies, gadgets and innovations. Chandragupta Amritkar reports from Las Vegas.

This year's Consumer Electronics Show (CES) was the largest in the event's 44-year history, with a record number of over 3,100 exhibitors across the largest show floor in CES history - 1.861 million net square feet of exhibit space - and drawing a record of more than 153,000 attendees, including more than 34,000 international attendees. More than 20,000 new products were launched, which also featured top executives participating in keynote sessions, including those from Qualcomm, Mercedes, Wal-Mart, Intel, Ford, Verizon, Unilever, Ford, eBay, GE, Google and Facebook. Executive delegations from thousands of global companies, from Apple to Zeo, attended the 2012 CES to meet with current and future customers.

Technology innovations generated excitement across the 2012 CES show floor including the launch of dozens of ultrabooks, OLED TVs, Android 4.0 tablets, next generation smartphones and 3D printers. "The 2012 CES was the most phenomenal show in our history, generating more energy and excitement across every major industry touching technology than ever before," said Gary Shapiro, president and CEO of CEA, owner and producer of the International CES. "CES is the change agent, the catalyst, that brings executives from a wide range of industries together and helps them create better ways of doing business together. The breadth and depth of the 2012 CES, which featured more innovative technology products than anywhere else on Earth, is a testament to the dynamic and innovative global consumer technology industry, which will reach $1 trillion globally this year." Industries with increased presence at the 2012 International CES include healthcare, automotive, entertainment, advertising and marketing.

Tech Trends: Knowledge Sessions Keynotes from top companies was an attraction as delegates went on to hear what the industry leaders from Qualcomm, Intel, Mercedes-Benz, Microsoft, Ericsson, Ford, Verizon, Xerox, eBay, YouTube, Facebook etc have to say.

Gary Shapiro, president and CEO of CEA, delivered a State of the CE Industry address and projected that the US consumer electronics industry will increase by 3.7 per cent in 2012, exceeding $202 billion, and global spending on consumer technology devices will surpass $1 trillion in 2012. Shapiro cited innovation as the key to global industry and economic growth. "The cause of innovation is closely linked to the most important issue of our day - the health of the global economy," said Shapiro. "We can't escape the news that many countries face tough economic times from government over-spending. These nations have three options for recovery: raise taxes, cut spending or grow the economy. Of these three, growth is the best path. Growth is the quest and it comes only from innovation."

Qualcomm's Dr Paul Jacobs delivered the opening 2012 CES keynote as part of the Technology and Developing Countries Program (TEC). Jacobs announced that the mobile market will soon reach $1.3 trillion and discussed ways that mobile platforms are improving lives, including a mobile microfinance program for impoverished women in Indonesia. During his address, Jacobs introduced Qualcomm's Snapdragon processor, the first all-in-one processor to hit the market. Joined on stage with Nokia's Stephen Elop, Jacobs announced that every Windows phone would be powered with Snapdragon processors. Jacobs also introduced Lenovo's Liu Jun, who announced the company's first Smart TV to be powered by Snapdragon.

Dr Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars, took the stage to highlight Mercedes-Benz's innovation inside the vehicle. Zetsche discussed connectivity in the car and how the digital lifestyle extends to the "digital drive style." Mercedes-Benz announced its Declaration of Automotive Independence, which calls for the freedom of time, freedom of speech, freedom of access, freedom of energy and freedom of information. "With this declaration, the best days of driving are still ahead," said Zetsche.

"Mercedes-Benz is making cars safer, smarter and more efficient, not to mention more fun to drive." Zetsche also highlighted their Car2Go service, a car sharing program featuring electric vehicles. The service will add twelve new cities in 2012 as well as Car2gether, a secure social network for the road. The SuperSession, "Spotlight on 3D Content," addressed the top challenges in the 3D content industry. The panel, consisting of executives from ESPN, 3net, Cameron Pace group and HBO, discussed exciting plans for bringing a plethora of 3D content to the home this year. ESPN's Bryan Burns began by noting, "the 3D seeds we have planted are really starting to sprout," an idea support by all the panelists. Other topics of discussion included new technologies being developed to help capture 3D and the decreasing price of 3D sets as a driver for market growth.

Intel President and CEO Dr Paul Otellini spoke of "transistors transforming people's lives." A number of Intel-based products were announced, including the Intel-based Lenovo K800, a smartphone coming to market later this year. Intel processors will also be featured in a number of devices from Motorola Mobility thanks to a new multi-year, multi-device partnership.

Intel demonstrated the power of its new 22 nanometer, a three-dimensional transistor technology named "Ivy Bridge." Otellini told attendees, "Moore's Law isn't about science, it's about man's drive to innovate." The Intel-based Ultrabook category received yet a new member with the announcement of the XPS 13 Ultrabook by Dell's Vice Chairman Jeff Clark. The 11-inch Ultrabook is 6mm at its thinnest, and features a carbon fiber base allowing it to weigh less than three pounds.

Hans Vestberg, President and CEO of Ericsson, discussed "The Networked Society" connecting everyone and everything through mobility. "We have a responsibility to build networks that can carry innovation," said Vestberg. Ericsson predicts there will be 50 billion connected devices worldwide by 2020.

The CES Brand keynote panel featured the marketing minds of the world's top brands. The retail and branding effects of social media, healthcare-related technologies, connectivity and the explosion of wireless were all discussed during the session. The panelists agreed that people are becoming more connected to their devices, and because of this, to each other. "Our core belief is that the entire web is being rebuilt around people," said Facebook's Vice President of Global Marketing Solutions Carolyn Everson.

SuperSession with CEA President and CEO Gary Shapiro, FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski stressed the importance of broadband, particularly wireless, in the future of consumer electronics. "The demand for spectrum has grown because people love these products," said Genachowski, stressing the need for Congress to pass incentive spectrum auction legislation. "We need to get it done now." Bringing the digital lifestyle safely into the car was SuperSession, "Connect2Car: Connecting Automotive and Consumer Electronics Lifestyles." Several main trends were discussed including, driving green, driving connected, driving safe and driving cool. The panel agreed that collaboration is the key, when integrating apps and other technology into the car.

John Donahoe, president and CEO of eBay, delivered the keynote address at the Leaders in Technology (LIT) dinner. Donahoe discussed how the intersection of technology and retail is having a profound impact on consumers' shopping experience and predicted that the next three years of "shopping and paying" will see more profound change then what we've seen over the past 10-15 years.

Robert Kyncl, Vice President of Global Content Partnerships, YouTube described how content, distribution and marketing of video have come together to make it a transformative and accessible viewing option around the world. According to Kyncl, by 2020, 75 percent of all channels will be transmitted or born on the Internet, due to closed systems that have no opened up.

The International CES will return to Las Vegas January 8-11, 2013 (The writer is with Global Features and can be contacted at chandraguptaa@hotmail.com) Next Month: CES: Products to watch