Internet of Things to take centrestage at CES

[SAN FRANCISCO] From drones and smart cars to remote-controlled door locks and eyewear, the 2014 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) promises to showcase the "Internet of Things", along with gadgets like smartphones and tablets.

The technology extravaganza that plays out each year in the glitz-laden city of Las Vegas has evolved beyond the eye-popping television technology for which it is known, to serve as a stage for once-dumb devices given brains in the form of computer chips and Internet connections.

And smartphones and tablets have become such stars in their own rights, complete with rapid release cycles and exclusive launch events, that the titans in that market tend to leave the CES stage and hordes of press from around the world to gizmos that don't usually get a spotlight.