The annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is the world's largest meeting of technology innovators and enthusiasts. Held in Las Vegas, the consumer conference is awash with robots, smart home appliances, phones and TVs.

At the 2017 conference CES will be celebrating its 50th anniversary. In the past half a century it has gained a reputation as the major tech event of the year, witnessing the announcement of entertainment-changing innovations from the first videocassette recorder in 1970, to camcorder and CD player in 1981, to the Xbox in 2001.

An array of companies from around the world will showcase their latest innovations in keynote speeches, presentations and booths around the city in the first week of the year, setting the agenda for 2017's trends in tech.

When and where is it?

CES 2017 officially runs from January 5 to 8 in Las Vegas, United States. However, tradition dictates that many of the larger tech companies in attendance announce their products at CES Unveiled, a preview of trends and innovations that runs from January 3.
What companies will be attending?

The companies that are most likely to be making announcements at CES this year include:

•     Casio
•     BMW
•     Bosch
•     Honor
•     HTC  
•     Huawei
•     Intel
•     Faraday Future
•     LG
•     Lenovo
•     Nissan
•     Nvidia
•     Panasonic
•     Samsung
•     Sony
•     Qualcomm
•     Toyota
•     Volkswagen
•     Xiaomi

Technology giants Apple and Google notably don't make an appearance at CES, but prefer to hold their own launch events. And while web companies Amazon and Netflix have attended in the past, we're not expecting a big show from them this year.
What will be announced at CES 2017?

Between them we can expect to see a range of new products and concepts, including laptops, smartphones and tablets, as well as the future of the car and completely connected homes.

One of the most exciting announcements will include Faraday Future's concept car, " a premium electric vehicle that combines extreme technology, industry leading range and holistic design". Meanwhile, Sony is expected to announce its first range of OLED TVs and products will be unveiled by Samsung, Nvidia, Bosch and more.

    1. We founded a company. #FaradayFuture
    2. We created a concept. #FFZERO1
    3. We joined a race. #FormulaE
    4. We unveil the future. #CES2017 pic.twitter.com/TVk3gZ2Dey
    — Faraday Future (@FaradayFuture) October 19, 2016

There could also be innovative uses for VR, waterproof and 4K smartphones, and endless drones and smart home gadgets. And there will be no shortage of the weird and wonderful such as home security robots, smart watch straps, and pollution and radiation fighting clothing.