Conference

The best and the brightest minds in consumer electronics take the stage every year for the Digital Downtown Conference at CEA Line Shows. It’s two days of thought leadership from leading journalists, policymakers, technology providers and start-ups.

Journalists say it’s an important time of year for an update on what’s new and happening on the consumer technology front. It’s a vital mid-year, pre-4Q briefing about the newest, coolest gadgets and breakthrough technology trends.

Here are some of the topics to be discussed during the 2012 Digital Downtown Conference Program:

(Program subject to change – last updated 4/2/12)

Day 1

7:30am: Registration Opens

8:30am: Welcome Address

8:45 – 9:15am
CEA Industry Update
Speaker: Shawn DuBravac, Chief Economist and the Director of Research
Consumer Electronics Association

9:20 - 9:50am
• Keynote Address

10 – 10:30am
• Digital Imaging
According to just about every study you see today, the number of images captured with camera-equipped mobile devices is inching closer and closer to the number captured by traditional cameras. As a result, point-and-shoot manufacturers are scrambling on the innovation front to maintain market share as the imaging part of the smartphone equation continues to evolve. In short, there’s never been a more interesting time in the history of image capture. Join an expert panel of imaging manufacturers and software designers at the 2012 CE Week for a provocative exploration of the amazing new directions this category is headed in.
Moderator: Roy Furchgott, Technology Writer, NY Times, Gadgetwise

10:30 – 11am
Press Conference

11 – 11:30am
Headphones
Audio is bigger than ever — and it’s smaller at the same time. As headphones become the mobile listening environment of choice they also set a style statement for a generation of on-the-go audiophiles. You haven’t heard anything until you’ve listened to this expert panel of headphone manufacturer discussing sound quality, noise reduction, celebrity marketing, design and new trends in high-end headphones.
Moderator: David Carnoy, CNET

11:30-12pm
CE Blogosphere
There’s a new generation of market commentators who set the standards and expectations for millions of gadget freaks around the world. A panel of the industry’s top bloggers will discuss the exciting new products they can’t wait to get their hands on as well as the products they can’t live without.
Moderator: Peter Rojas, Co-Founder, GDGT

12 – 12:30pm
Press Conference

12:30: Networking Lunch

1:30 – 2pm
Next Gen TV
They’re flatter than ever, connected, 3D capable and even higher rez. . Next Gen TV is here and it’s getting hard to separate the gear from the programming. Listen to the markets’ top manufacturers, designers and journalists discuss exactly how far the boob tube has come and where its headed. What’s 4K, OLED and Passive 3D?
Moderator: David Katzmaier, Senior Editor, CNET

2-2:30pm
Press Conference

2:30 – 3pm
Executive 1-on-1

3 – 3:45pm
Home Tech
The household has gone electronic — what started as home theater is now a fully networked entertainment, information, security, health and household monitoring system. What are the new enabling technologies and what new home tech products are changing residential lifestyles and even household appliances.

3:45 – 4:15pm
Press Conference

4:30-5:30pm
App Showdown
Robin Raskin and the gang from Living in Digital Times hold their Annual Mobile App Showdown at CEA Line Shows. Check out the nominees on the CEA Line Shows floor and then watch the contenders show off their apps on stage and shoot it out for the best app of the bunch.

6:45 – 7:45pm
NY Tech Classic and Keynote

Day 2

7:30am: Registration opens

8:30am: Welcome Address

8:45 – 9:15am: Opening Keynote

9:20 – 9:50am
Mobile Health
You’ll be hearing a lot about mHealth in the years ahead. The new category includes the use of mobile devices in collecting health data, delivery of healthcare information to Drs, researchers, and patients, real-time monitoring of patient vital signs, and direct provision of care. Listen to experts in the field of mHealth discuss how your mobile device can help you live a healthier life and what is on the horizon for this emerging industry.

10 – 10:30am
Press Conference

10:30 – 11am
Mom Bloggers
Moms are a big market for CE gear and Mom Bloggers are an extremely important way to reach and gain feedback from these buyers of both personal and kid gadgets. With huge followings, these Internet commentators can potentially make or break your products and services. Listen to leading Mom Bloggers as they pick their best new products.
Moderator: Suzanne Kantra, Founder/CEO, Techlicious

11:30 – 12pm
Mobile Devices
Cell phones, smartphones, tablets etc, we’re always connected. And June is a big month for new mobile device product introductions, so what’s the latest word from Apple, RIM and the Windows and the Android communities?

12 – 12:30pm
Executive 1-on-1
Moderator: Molly Wood, Executive Editor, CNET

12:30pm: Networking Lunch

1 – 2pm
Eureka Park Challenge

2 – 2:30pm:
Press Conference

2:30 – 3pm:
Ultrabooks
Will 2012 be the year of the Ultrabook? Neither an anemic counterpart to the laptop nor a keyboard-lover’s option to a tablet, these new ultra-light machines are coming with their own, unique super-capabilities and features. Listen in on the market’s top designers talk about what Ultrabooks are capable of and why they may take up an even larger piece of the personal computer pie.
Moderator: Mark Spoonauer, Editor-in-Chief, LAPTOP

3 – 3:30pm
Retailer Panel
New York City is a dynamic retail environment for CE. What are the customers buying, how are they shopping and where are they learning what to buy? A panel of executives from local retailers and national chains sit down together to paint a portrait of the Big Apple’s CE consumer electronics buyer.
Moderator: Jeff O’Heir, Editor-in-Chief, Dealerscope

3:30 – 4pm:
Press Conference

4 – 4:30pm:
Gadgets for Every Demographic
Moderator: Andrea Smith, ABC News
Panelists:
Dana Points, Editor in Chief, Parents Magazine
Maura Randall, Digital Managing Director, Lucky Magazine

4:30 – 5pm:
Best in Show/Innovation Zone Winners
Throughout the show attendees and the online community will be voting in multiple categories for the Best of Show at CEA Line Shows. During this entertaining session, you’ll see the top rated products demonstrated by their makers, while a panel of judges ultimately picks a winner.

Here’s a look at the leaders who spoke and moderated at last year’s event:

Parry Aftab, Founder, WiredSafety.org

Ryan Block, gdgt

Bryan Burns, Vice President Strategic Business Planning and Development, ESPN

Michael Cai, Interpret, LLC

Chris Chinnock, Insight Media

Stephen A. Davis, Axpona.com

Frank DeLise, Kaos Studio

Shawn DuBravac, CEA

Peter Fannon, Panasonic Corporation of North America

Chaim Gartenberg, GenUpload

John Gaudiosi, Gamerlive.TV

Don Inmon, The House of Marley

Michael Kanellos, Greentech Media

Suzanne Kantra, Techlicious

Karin Klein, Business and Corporate Development, Bloomberg LLP

Alan Kraemer, SRS Labs

Norm Levy, Shoutomatic

Cali Lewis, GeekBeat.TV

Kenneth R. Lowe, VIZIO

Nhon Ma, tenka Inc.

Brent McCarty, Ingram Micro

Bernard Mendiburu, Volfoni

Clayton Morris, Fox News

Tim O’Brien, Vice President of Marketing, LG Mobile Phones

Ed Palumbo, Opera Software

Michael Paulson, Decide

Seth Porges, Maxim Magazine

Robin Raskin, Living In Digital Times

Paul Renyolds, Consumer Reports

Peter Rogina, Enchanted Glass Entertainment

Peter Rojas, gdgt

Rey Roque, Westinghouse Digital

Ross Rubin, The NPD Group

Jeff Sellinger, shopkick, Inc.

Steve Shannon, RealD

Gary Shapiro, CEA

Emmy-nominated and Award-winning TV Correspondent, Host and Author

Andrea Smith, ABC News Radio

Zachary Sniderman, Mashable

Mark Spoonauer, LAPTOP

Joanna Stern, This is My Next

Kevin Stolworthy, Vice President Content and Information Technology, ESPN

Stu Strezler, Broadcast Consultant

Lance Ulanoff, PCMag.com

John Wiseman, Thrillist

2012 Sponsors

2012 Speakers

	Shawn DuBravac, CEA
	Suzanne Kantra, Techlicious
	David Katzmaier, CNET
	Jeff O’Heir, Dealerscope
	Seth Porges, Maxim Magazine
	Robin Raskin, Living In Digital Times
	Peter Rojas, gdgt
	Gary Shapiro, CEA
	Andrea Smith, ABC News Radio
	Mark Spoonauer, LAPTOP
	Lance Ulanoff, Mashable