The Consumer Technology Association (CTA) is a standard and trade organization representing 1,376 consumer technology companies[1] in the United States. CTA is led by president and CEO Gary J. Shapiro.

Consumer Technology Association (CTA)
FormerlyConsumer Electronics Association (1999–2015)
Company typeTrade organization
PredecessorConsumer Electronics Association
FoundedApril 16, 1924; 100 years ago (1924-04-16) (as Radio Manufacturers Association)
1999 (as Consumer Electronics Association)
2015 (as Consumer Technology Association)
U.S.
Headquarters1919 S. Eads St., Crystal City, Virginia, U.S.
Number of locations
San Francisco, California, U.S. (1980–present)
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Gary J. Shapiro, President and CEO
Websitewww.cta.tech

Trade shows

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CES is a major technology trade show held each January in Las Vegas.

The first CES was held in 1967 in New York City.[2] It was a spin-off from the Chicago Music Show,[3] which until then had served as the main event for exhibiting consumer electronics. The event had 17,500 attendees and over 100 exhibitors.[4] From 1978 to 1994, CES was held twice each year: once in January in Las Vegas, known as Winter Consumer Electronics Show (WCES), and once in June in Chicago, known as Summer Consumer Electronics Show. In 1998, the show changed to an annual format with Las Vegas as the location. CES is one of the largest and longest-running trade shows held in Las Vegas, taking up to 17 days to set up, run, and break down.[5]

Awards programs

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CTA has several awards programs for industry leaders, inventors, products, and technologies.

Since 1976, the Innovations Design and Engineering Awards has given consumer technology manufacturers and developers an opportunity to have their newest products judged by a panel of designers, engineers and members of the trade press.

CTAPAC

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CTAPAC is CTA's political action committee.

CTA Foundation

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In 2009, CTA established a charitable foundation dedicated to providing seniors and the disabled with technology in order to enhance their quality of life.[6] Selfhelp Community Services, an eldercare service organization, in New York City received the first grant issued by what was originally called the CEA Foundation. The grant was dedicated to reducing social isolation and providing better access to community services among homebound seniors using computer and internet technology.

Hall of Fame

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The CTA maintains a Hall of Fame, to which notable contributors to the field of consumer electronics are named.

Name changes

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Former CTA logo, used from 1999 until 2015

CTA originally started as the Radio Manufacturers Association (RMA) in 1924. In 1950, it changed its name to Radio-Television Manufacturers Association (RTMA). In 1953, it changed its name to Radio-Electronics-Television Manufacturers Association (RETMA). It was then the Electronic Industries Association (EIA) from 1957 to 1998, when it became the Electronic Industries Alliance. In 1995, EIA's Consumer Electronics Group (CEG) became the Consumer Electronics Manufacturers Association (CEMA). In 1999, President Gary Shapiro announced the trade group's name change from CEMA to the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) and became an independent sector of the Electronic Industries Alliance (EIA).[7] The name of CEA was changed to Consumer Technology Association (CTA) in November 2015.[8]

See also

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  • CEA 2030, multi-room audio cabling standard

Notes

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  1. ^ "CTA Member Directory". members.cta.tech.
  2. ^ June, Laura; Pierce, David (January 4, 2013). "Incredible photos from the CES vault: 1967 to 2014". The Verge. Archived from the original on July 14, 2023. Retrieved August 7, 2023.
  3. ^ "The History of CES – the Consumer Electronics Show". AVADirect. January 5, 2016. Retrieved February 23, 2019.
  4. ^ "50 Year Anniversary of First CES in New York".
  5. ^ "Freeman Show Schedule".
  6. ^ "CTA Foundation: About Us".[permanent dead link]
  7. ^ "Digital America". Consumer Electronics Association. Archived from the original on August 21, 2007. Retrieved September 19, 2007.
  8. ^ "Group behind Consumer Electronics Show is changing its name". Las Vegas Sun. November 13, 2015. Retrieved January 10, 2016.
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