CES: There’s an app for that

The 2013 International Consumer Electronics Show officially opens today at the Las Vegas Convention Center, and as usual, it's so much more than a showcase for jaw-dropping gadgetry.

With technological advances putting more and more processing power into electronic devices that are getting smaller and smaller, CES provides attendees with a preview of how we will go about our lives and conduct business - not in the years ahead, but right now.

Yes, many cool new toys will be on display this week, from ultra-high-definition screens to bendable screens to a 27-inch personal computer that's as flat as the table or desk you put it on. In all, more than 3,100 companies will present 20,000 products to an estimated 156,000 attendees through Friday.

But much of the trade show is dedicated to supporting the smartphones and tablets the world is snapping up at a mind-boggling pace. The $206 billion industry offers products designed to make every mundane routine and major project more enjoyable and efficient. CES will be the "largest app event in the world," Shawn DuBravac, chief economist and senior director of research for the Consumer Electronics Association, said in his state of the industry speech Sunday at Mandalay Bay.

"The smartphone is becoming, literally, the viewfinder for your digital life," he said.

Smartphones are in 52 percent of American households. A year ago, 20 percent of U.S. households had a tablet. Today, 40 percent of households have one. Global technology spending is expected to grow 4 percent this year, with emerging markets such as China, India and Brazil projected to more than double that rate.

Mr. DuBravac points out that phones are becoming less important in consumer electronics because they're now among the least-utilized features on smartphones. For users, it's all about running multiple apps, accessing the Internet and having the connection speed to do everything quickly. Far from being time killers, these devices have become indispensable time savers for hundreds of millions of people.

The importance of CES to Las Vegas goes far beyond the estimated $197.3 million nongaming economic impact and all the jobs it supports setting up the event and feeding and entertaining attendees. CES is a global event for a critical global industry. As technology continues to reshape the gaming and hospitality industries, having CES in Las Vegas can only help keep Strip operators at the front of these rapid changes.

No, we don't have an app for everything. Some things you have to see, taste and experience in person. In Las Vegas, it's OK to put down that smartphone and tablet and enjoy your surroundings.

Welcome back, CES.