(Thumbnail image: National Journal)

Once a year there comes a time when geeks, techies and nerds become the coolest people in the room.  At the world’s largest consumer electronics tradeshow in Las Vegas, companies showed off what hot items consumers will be fighting over in 2010.

“This is the world’s first wireless leash for mobile phones.” (CNN)

We’re looking at how new companies tackled environmental and economic concerns at this year’s trailblazing tradeshow from PC World, Wired.com, The Guardian, BBC News and FOX Business.

With electronics giant Circuit City closing its doors and a slow economic recovery, consumer electronics took a hit in 2009.  But you wouldn’t know it looking at the new ideas at the 2010 the Consumer Electronics Show or CES.

PC World reports that, “visitors said that the struggling economy hasn't caused CES to fall from its perch…”

And Wired.com reports that this year’s tradeshow brings a new level of optimism missing from last year’s show.

“There's still plenty of uncertainty as we enter the new decade, but it's of a less existential kind than we saw last year, and more about precisely which kind of progress to pursue.” (Wired.com)

But The Guardian reports that most companies didn’t stray too far from popular 2009 concepts.

“Instead of going out on a limb with new concepts, many manufacturers decided to crowd behind just a handful of ideas, particularly electronic books and 3DTV.” (The Guardian)

But sometimes concepts can use a little work. A BBC News reporter found out just what it takes to smash an unbreakable phone and crush a company’s hopes for the new year.

"Now Bob has challenged me that I can do pretty much anything I like to this phone and it won’t destroy it so let’s put that to the test….oh….and there goes the screen…

…you’ve actually broken the phone.” 

FOX Business reports on what products are going to conserve energy and save you money in 2010.

“One of the other big trends at CES this year is green tech, not just meaning making in the sense that its ecofriendly or ecofriendly packaging or plastic.  Really using technology to make your life more efficient, to reduce power consumption, to be really green in your life.”

The Guardian reports that introducing new green products every year, no matter how efficient, still adds more stuff to the planet.

“We’re expected to get a new phone every other month and no matter how green you make that, that’s a problem. But in general I think that theres a commitment.  We’re really arguing at this point about the speed of change. We want more faster, because the environment deserves it.”

What new electronic toy are you excited about this year? And is this year going to see a boom in consumer electronics’ sales?

Writer: Jennifer Herseim