With the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) just days away, some unmistakable patterns are emerging in the product buzz and technology announcements surrounding the event, which will be held January 9 through 12 in Las Vegas. Key themes for this year's show include home networking, games, DVD technologies, Bluetooth devices, digital imaging, digital Hollywood entertainment platforms, wireless technologies, digital radio receivers, and even electric cars, and software-driven personal objects. Possibly the biggest theme-the overarching thread-will be convergence.

There are several forums scheduled for discussing convergence between computing platforms and the world of entertainment. Among the Digital Hollywood panels and conferences, there will be a Digital Download SuperSession, where executives from Hollywood, the consumer electronics industries, and the PC industry will discuss copyright and piracy protection issues. Among those who will speak at the show are Rob Glaser, CEO of RealNetworks, Michael Dell, CEO of Dell Computer, and executives from Sony.