Motherboard Is Searching for the Future at CES

Motherboard is going to CES, and I couldn't be more excited about it.

It's true. Every year, right after the holidays, the entire consumer electronics industry descends upon Las Vegas for a week of unrelenting hype. Highly paid executives from the largest tech companies on the planet hop on stage in and around the Las Vegas Convention Center and loudly proclaim that this year, ladies and gentlemen, will be the year of… whatever it is that they happen to be hawking at the moment. It's not too different than when a boxer or mixed martial artist claims that his next opponent will be the toughest opponent he's ever had to face, completely brushing aside last year's battles.

The ephemerality of it all is so excellent.

That's what I love about CES: It's a completely over-the-type hype train about the future of the devices we all use every day, from the TV we turn on after work (increasingly to watch streaming services like Netflix), to the fitness trackers we use to remind ourselves of just how sedentary our lives truly are.

It's like WrestleMania week, but for people who are into tech and not fake fighting.

Motherboard will be in Las Vegas for the entire week, heaven help us, with myself, internet culture reporter Kari Paul, and security reporter Lorenzo Franceschi-Bicchierai all reporting from the ground. It's a small team, yes, but I think that's a strength: Rather than trying to cover every single thing that comes out of the show, we can instead be a little more selective in what we write about.

This year, I expect the there to be a keen emphasis on the Internet of Things, and bringing internet connectivity to an ever wider variety of devices. Of course, with internet connectivity comes a range of potential security issues, which Lorenzo will no doubt highlight in his own inimitable fashion.

Cars will be another big topic this year, with companies like BMW, Ford, and Toyota all having a big presence at the show. Naturally, much of the interest will surround autonomous driving, but we'll also be on the lookout for the increased adoption of technologies like Apple's CarPlay and Google's Android Auto, which seek to more tightly integrate smartphones and apps into the driving experience.

And given the expected launch of the Oculus Rift in the first quarter of the year, look for virtual reality and augmented reality to have prominent roles at the show. In fact, there's a section of the Convention Center show floor that's entirely dedicated to VR and AR.

As part of Motherboard's coverage of CES this year, there are a few ways that you can interact with us. The quickest and easiest way to get a hold of us is to contact the Motherboard CES Tips line on Twitter at @MBCESTIPS. We plan to set aside a few hours later in the week where we'll 100 percent be at your disposal: Want us to talk to Samsung live on Periscope about their crazy expensive TV? You got it. Want to see the inside of Ford's latest autonomous concept vehicle on Vine? Done and done. Need pictures from inside the Fetty Wap party? We'll see what we can do.

All aboard the hype train!