Two dozen Colorado companies are packing their high-tech wares and heading to Las Vegas this weekend for the 2007 International Consumer Electronics Show, the world’s largest trade show for consumer technology.
Some companies are old hats at the show, now in its 40th year, while others are making their first appearance.
“We’re nervous and excited,” said Kevin Colburn, vice president of engineering for Greeley-based 3D Innovations. “Our main goal is to look for customers.”
The company, run by Colburn and his wife, Lori, has developed the PCGamerBike, a miniature exercise bike that can be used to control movement in video games.
More than 140,000 attendees from 130 countries are expected at the electronics show. That includes more than 2,700 exhibitors, ranging from Microsoft to Epilog Laser, a Golden-based maker of laser engraving and cutting systems that will be showing off new products.
EchoStar co-founder and chairman Charlie Ergen will hold a news conference Monday, the first official day of the show, where he’s expected to announce new features Dish Network plans to roll out in 2007. Rival satellite-TV provider DirecTV – now controlled by Douglas County-based Liberty Media Corp. – will hold its conference in a nearby room after EchoStar’s.
Denver-based 9 Squared, a maker of ringtones and other mobile content, will also be at the electronics show. The company was purchased in August 2004 by Lancaster, U.K.-based Monstermob Group Plc for $3 million.
The costs for a small business to attend the CES sometimes outweigh the benefits. For Al Stiefel, president of Denver-based Red Rock Audio, the company took a two-year hiatus because “the payoff is sometimes questionable for a small company.”
The maker of high-end audio amplifiers is attending again this year. He’s minimizing his costs by sharing an exhibit room with two other companies that make corresponding speakers and cables.
“Our goal would be to pick up a dealer or two,” Stiefel said. “If I got one distributor or a dealer from Asia or Europe, I’d be tickled. It would make the show worthwhile.”
Boulder-based Case Logic plans to unveil a new line of about 50 backpacks, messenger bags and luggage items suitable for hauling laptops and other electronics. The company is known for its cassette-tape and CD storage and carrying cases.
“For us, it is a natural extension of our brand,” said Jeff Warde, Case Logic marketing manager. “We’ve been providing storage for cases now for 23 years.”
The Colburns operate 3D Innovations out of their garage. Their self-funded company has been around for seven years, since Kevin Colburn, a former Hewlett-Packard employee, started developing a 3-D chat room in his spare time. He later devised a game and then a controller for the game that lets users get a workout. PCGamerBike was released last summer.
“As you pedal forward, your character will move forward, and when you reverse, (the) character goes backward,” said Lori Colburn. “You use a keyboard or controller to move from side to side.”
In addition to running forward and backward in first-person-type games, the bike will store workout information – length of workout and miles pedaled – on the PC. The Colburns have already won a 2007 International CES Innovations Design and Engineering Award for the bike.
Staff writer Kimberly S. Johnson can be reached at 303-954-1088 or kjohnson@denverpost.com.
Colorado entities at the CES
Colorado companies attending the 2007 International Consumer Electronics Show next week in Las Vegas:
Source: Consumer Electronics Association
