Lahman: Rochester tech companies stake claims at CES

Since the 1970s, the International Consumer Electronics Show has been a high point for both tech companies and early adopters. It's part industry convention, part celebration of high tech. The weeklong event is an opportunity to see the newest cutting-edge products and to identify the trends that will dominate the technology business for the next year.

It's the place where many of the biggest consumer technologies of the last 40 years were first unveiled: the VCR in 1970, the camcorder in 1981 and the DVD in 1996, to name a few.

There's always a strong contingent of Rochester companies showing off their innovations, and the 2015 event, held in Las Vegas, was no exception.

One of the biggest splashes at this year's CES was the unveiling of the new Kodak-brand smartphone. The Kodak IM5 is manufactured by Bullit, a British electronics firm. It's an Android device with a clear focus on photography.

The IM5 has a 13-megapixel auto-focus rear camera and a 5-megapixel front camera, and it includes Kodak imaging software designed to make it easier to take and share pictures. It's aimed at klutzes like me who need all the help they can get to improve our point-and-shoot efforts. It will be available in Europe sometime during the first quarter, and in the U.S. later this year.

Brighton-based Vuzix Corp., best known for making video eyewear and smart glasses, won several CES Innovation Awards this year for its new video game system. The V-720 Mobile Gaming Platform hardware combines a pair of video glasses with headphones, creating an immersive viewing experience. Users can play games, run Android apps, or even stream movies. They can also connect it to an device, like a game console, desktop computer, or Blu-Ray player.

"We are proud of the V-720 Mobile Gaming Platform," said CEO Paul Travers, "and we believe it could revolutionize the way consumers will play games, view entertainment, use apps, and listen to music on the go."

The CES show isn't just about revealing your new product. It's a great opportunity for tech companies to see what their competitors are doing, learn about new advances in their field, and network with potential partners.

Tim Moore, the chief marketing officer for Rochester Optical, has been posting videos each day with a rundown of what he was seeing, with a particular focus on wearable technologies.

"The things you see here at CES are next level, next generation stuff," Moore said in one of his dispatches. "It's amazing to see the companies that are here."

Moore talked about the wide variety of wearables he saw on display for running, golf, fitness, and all sorts of tracking applications. And he shared his excitement about companies who were showing off new applications for smart eyewear, a field where Rochester Optical hopes to be one of the major players.

"Smart eyewear was on the hot list from thought leaders in medical, enterprise, technology and the optical industry," Moore said.

And really, that's what makes this show important. It's not just about launching a new product, it's about seeing where the cutting edge is, where it's headed and — for local companies — figuring out what they need to do to keep pace in the fast-paced world of consumer electronics.

Sean Lahman's column appears in print on Sundays. Follow him on Twitter @SeanLahman, or reach him by email at SLAHMAN@DemocratAndChronicle.com or at (585) 258-2369.