Connected devices

Research firm Gartner forecasted that there will be 6.4 billion connected things in use worldwide in 2016, up 30 percent from 2015, and that the market will grow to 20.8 billion by 2020.

The dominating influence of connected devices will undoubtedly be felt everywhere at CES 2016. "Over 1,000 companies will show connected products," Shapiro said. It is so large that "at CES we no longer have a separate area (for these products)."

Shapiro believed the IOT products "are fundamentally solving the problems that humanity has."

"It tells you things and it connects information and it collects (data) so we'll know which treatment, which foods to eat, how we stay healthier, live longer, better, more productive lives," he said.

Just as the IOT is on the rise, so are the security risks. This year, CES will feature its first cybersecurity forum to "examine the dark side of our interconnected world and explore what companies need to know and do to protect their data, products and customers," the CTA said.

But Shapiro himself tried to downplay such security risks. "It's a concern for our governments ... for businesses and companies," he said. "In terms of the products themselves, it's less of a concern right now because ... as products in your home are made connected, someone controls the fan or your thermostat, it's not a problem."

He noted that concerns around security cameras or things like that are also "being overblown."

File photo: In this photo illustration, a Nest thermostat is being adjusted in a home on January 16, 2014 in Provo, Utah. [Photo/Agencies]