CES showcase offers a glimpse of thing to come

The big IT stories revolved around set-top boxes, including keynote speaker Bill Gates' unveiling of Microsoft's UltimateTV system, as well as new PDAs.

A show standout was Seiko Instruments' Wrist Companion. Reminding many of the wristwatch communicator from Dick Tracy cartoons, this device links to cell phones or PCs via Bluetooth technology. With compatible cell phones, this high tech watch can access both voice and email functions.

IT professionals, meanwhile, focused on new devices which will make communications between office, home-office and travel more seamless.

In the emerging age of telecommuting IT professionals, this was identified by the show as the area to watch. One product of the show, which highlighted this was Hughes Network Systems' Satellite Return DirecPC.

The system provides affordable, two-way internet access over satellite for homes and businesses - a turbo-charged online experience for gaming, streaming audio and video, or bandwidth-intensive business applications.