The 2011 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) brought more than 140,000 attendees to the massive Las Vegas Convention Center, where more than 2,700 exhibitors showed the present and future in technology. We were there, and here’s a brief look at what we saw:

Keynote speakers predicted that we’ll have movies, music, television, videos, email, Internet, and more "on demand, anywhere, any time, on any screen." The tools to do that are already here or coming soon--called SMART technology.

Cell phones are already getting smarter and filled with many more features. With your iPhone and the appropriate app (application program) you can check your home security system, control your TV set or a home-wide music system, turn lights on or off, set your heating or A/C system, raise and lower window shades--and much more--from anywhere in the world where you can get a cellular and/or a WiFi signal. Similar capabilities from your Android phone will soon be available.

The Apple iPad was everywhere, already running about anything you can imagine, but there was also a landslide of more than 70 tablet computers in a variety of sizes from different manufacturers. Several manufacturers had tablets at the show, some had prototypes and others are in development. Many tablets were similar to the iPad, but others offer additional features or promises of advanced features not available on iPads.

Connected televisions were introduced by many companies. These TVs "connect" to the Internet, either via a home wireless network or an ethernet cable. Depending on the manufacturer, this connection serves to stream content from some of the major providers such as Netflix, Pandora, and others. Most allow streaming content from your home media server or a PC and can include photos as well as videos and music. Some manufacturers provide a limited browser, allowing you to surf the Internet and do searches from your connected TV.

With all these devices and the technology available to run them, you can see the coming ability to start watching a movie at home on your PC, continue it on your cell phone during your commute, and finish it during lunch on your iPad. Major cool.

The excitement last year over 3D-TV seemed to have waned a bit this year, but still many manufacturers introduced new 3D-TV sets, and at least three manufacturers introduced consumer level 3D HD camcorders. We’re still reserving judgement about having to wear those 3D glasses, but some manufacturers are working on glassless sets. We saw one and were not impressed.

Also on display were a wide range of automotive-oriented technology products, including all-electric cars. Other areas of technology included products to monitor health and fitness and those designed for seniors.

There’s much more to report, and we’ll cover specific products in future columns. Stay tuned.

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