Meet the real people of CES
Because you're more than just a name badge.
The number of attendees at CES is huge. A huge mass of people descending on Las Vegas to experience the latest and greatest in consumer technology. But, sadly, amidst all the hustle and bustle, busy schedules and dash to the next meeting, the human behind the name badge is often overlooked. Reduced to nothing more than a business card and a calendar appointment. Let's address that, and discover a hand-picked selection of real humans from all four corners of the CES world. These are the real people of CES.
![<p>"My name is Rodolfo, I'm at CES because I'm a security guard. I'm from the Philippines. I've been in the states for 40 years." </p>
<p><em>What is the key to happiness?</em></p>
<p>"Happiness? It depends upon the people. If you have work, if you have money -- you're happy."</p>
<p>[Colleague walks up during interview]</p>
<p>"Oh man Rodolfo, you gonna be <em>famous</em>."</p>](https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/U46mHhb.RBRi2Bf2Aumv5g--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTYzOA--/https://s.yimg.com/uu/api/res/1.2/kf9Iogr9P_gCCze3tPb5MA--~B/aD05MzA7dz0xNDAwO2FwcGlkPXl0YWNoeW9u/https://www.blogcdn.com/slideshows/images/slides/376/111/9/S3761119/slug/l/rodolfo-800-1.jpg)
![<p>"My name is Valentin, I am from Paris, France. We're at CES showing Immersit, a product that turns a normal couch, into a dynamic couch."</p>
<p>[Man demoing product behind is thrown around in chair]</p>
<p>"Also I like sports. Tennis and running. I'm not sure how good I am at tennis. Maybe we should play together, so we can find out?"</p>](https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/T08JpuqG.ztG.pwAvsCQTA--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTYzOA--/https://s.yimg.com/uu/api/res/1.2/_ARi74Tw7qHcRMgPswxRaw--~B/aD05MzA7dz0xNDAwO2FwcGlkPXl0YWNoeW9u/https://www.blogcdn.com/slideshows/images/slides/376/112/0/S3761120/slug/l/valentin-800-1.jpg)
![<p>[Two young women dance enthusiastically at a booth]</p>
<p>"I’m Carla." "I’m Verity."</p>
<p>[Meanwhile, Savannah dances in a rhythmic trance on a podium].</p>
<strong>Carla</strong>: “I’m from Florida.” <br />
<strong>Verity</strong>: “I’m from Salisbury, England.” <br />
[Savannah continues to dance silently]. <br />
<br />
<strong>Carla</strong>: “Savannah up there, her partner works for Inova, the company we’re promoting.”
<p><strong>Verity:</strong> “We’re at law school together, and she was like, ‘want to help with the booth’? And we were like, ‘Vegas baby.’”<br />
<strong>Carla:</strong> “I’ve probably been photographed and videoed more than ever in my entire life.<br />
<strong>Verity:</strong> “I think we definitely have the most energetic booth. We’ve been dancing since 9am!”<br />
<strong>Carla:</strong> “And all day yesterday!”<br />
<strong>Verity:</strong> “Once you dance like this for so long, you can’t stop. I was in the lunch line, and I was still doing it.</p>
<p><em>What is the key to happiness?</em></p>
<p><strong>Carla:</strong> “Do what makes you want to do!”<br />
<strong>Verity:</strong> “You mean ‘do what makes you happy.’”</p>
<p>[Verity and Carla join Savannah up on the podium and continue dancing].</p>](https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/wCDCQvJBN19Y4ZUyeEH37Q--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTYyNQ--/https://s.yimg.com/uu/api/res/1.2/hMMWbn0dQ8je0Bv38S8Raw--~B/aD05MTE7dz0xNDAwO2FwcGlkPXl0YWNoeW9u/https://www.blogcdn.com/slideshows/images/slides/376/141/6/S3761416/slug/l/verity-800-1.jpg)
![<p>"Let me tell you about Presto Doctor. It’s an online technology platform that connects Doctors to patients so you can get your medical weed card online. Then you can go to one of our preferred dispensaries, and then you can go pick up the product there. We’re just the technology, we host the video chat and the medical questionnaire etc.</p>
<p><em>Do you personally have one?</em></p>
<p>[Chantal pulls out a medical card with Taylor Swift's picture and name on it.]</p>
<p>"I do."</p>
<p><em>Where are you from?</em></p>
<p>We’re based in San Francisco, Silicon Valley.</p>
<p><em>Where is your favourite place to be?</em></p>
<p>"In summer, I like to go somewhere with a mild temperature near a body of water. For me happiness is anything near water. So, not here in the desert!"</p>](https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/r8KWj_jqOZNmYuc3l3QzaQ--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTYzOA--/https://s.yimg.com/uu/api/res/1.2/WxmYS7L8zrCqgNHYp7V.QQ--~B/aD05MzA7dz0xNDAwO2FwcGlkPXl0YWNoeW9u/https://www.blogcdn.com/slideshows/images/slides/376/141/7/S3761417/slug/l/chantal-800-1.jpg)
![<p>"I’ve been driving (taxis) for three years. CES is a good week for us. A lot of people."</p>
<p><em>What do you do for fun?</em></p>
<p>"I don’t have too many time for fun. I’m working 12 hours. I’m originally from Cuba. I used to sell cigars on the beach to Spanish tourists. I lived on the beach. Then I moved here. I used to work in construction. There’s more money in construction."</p>
<p>[Luis gestures to the empty construction site we’re passing.]</p>
<p>"But there’s not any construction work going on right now."</p>
<p><em>What is the key to happiness?</em></p>
<p>"For me? Stay nice with people. Be with nice people, and then you’re happy."</p>](https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/B1GoTXzZFMUmhUJeWNDy7w--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTYwMQ--/https://s.yimg.com/uu/api/res/1.2/r3EQ3S3JUVW8YQ1e2Hso8Q--~B/aD04Nzc7dz0xNDAwO2FwcGlkPXl0YWNoeW9u/https://www.blogcdn.com/slideshows/images/slides/376/247/7/S3762477/slug/l/luis-800-1.jpg)
![<p>"I’m from Hollister CA. I work for the department of defense, and I come around here and look for products that might meet their needs. Security products, fingerprint sensors, image systems… that sort of stuff."</p>
<p><em>What do you do when you're not working?</em></p>
<p>"I like my home, I like being amongst friends. I’m usually a home body you know, I work every day, try and follow the latest trends in technology. I’m an engineer, I’m a planner."</p>
<p><em>Nice shoes? </em>(Fabian is wearing Fila <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Fila-Skele-Toes-EZ-Slide-Shoes/dp/B005PLGOEA">Skele-Toes</a>)</p>
<p>[Fabian looks down.]</p>
<p>"Yeah, there are only four toes. Fila realized it's a lot cheaper to just make four toe pockets."</p>](https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/d6uTSzP_WMhzDgt.2.khsQ--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTYzOA--/https://s.yimg.com/uu/api/res/1.2/1Utt34fMVlSjH1JWbpoRpw--~B/aD05MzA7dz0xNDAwO2FwcGlkPXl0YWNoeW9u/https://www.blogcdn.com/slideshows/images/slides/376/142/0/S3761420/slug/l/fabian-800-1.jpg)
![<p>"I'm a journalist from Stockholm, Sweden. I write about tech stuff on feber.se."</p>
<p><em>What's your favorite tech stuff from the show?</em></p>
<p>"I really like the smart thingy on Samsung's booth."</p>
<p><em>Smart thingy?</em></p>
<p>"The hub, the smart hub that can control your home."</p>
<p><em>What do you like to do when you're not working?</em></p>
<p>"I like to play videogames, and drink beer."</p>
<p><em>Favorite beer?</em></p>
<p><i>"</i>Heineken."</p>
<p><em>Heineken??</em></p>
<p>[Interview ends.]</p>
<p></p>](https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/eFfnmNZHRX6ncGaniCslPg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTYzOA--/https://s.yimg.com/uu/api/res/1.2/a22qaUyqxyuGATGYYC2hfg--~B/aD05MzA7dz0xNDAwO2FwcGlkPXl0YWNoeW9u/https://www.blogcdn.com/slideshows/images/slides/376/238/8/S3762388/slug/l/dsc04008-800-1.jpg)
![<p>"What do I do? DJ... I do events for a living. I'm originally from Syracuse, NY. Right now I live in Henderson."</p>
<p><em>How long have you been DJing?</em></p>
<p>"Originally? Probably, like, 30 years? I like everything. A good DJ likes all music."</p>
<p><em>What tunes are getting the crowd going at CES?</em></p>
<p>"I'm playing a mix of techno, EDM, trance... house, old school and maybe some top 40. I'm using Serato (DJ software), most guys like Serato. It's easy to use. It keeps beats, it does keys. It does everything."</p>
<p><em>What about vinyl coming back?</em></p>
<p>[Greg pauses to drop another EDM banger.]</p>
<p>"Uuuhh, vinyl? I don't know about that... that's a lot of work carrying all that in!'</p>
<p><em>What makes you happy Greg?</em></p>
<p>"Working out. Going to the lake on the boat. I love boating. I've got a Sea Ray 200 Sport wakeboard boat. </p>
<p>Did you check out my shoes?"</p>](https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/vgRt7lI5W__z3gjFY051uw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTYzOA--/https://s.yimg.com/uu/api/res/1.2/LSEhFO5raqHiAMuAy_1NsQ--~B/aD05MzA7dz0xNDAwO2FwcGlkPXl0YWNoeW9u/https://www.blogcdn.com/slideshows/images/slides/376/239/0/S3762390/slug/l/dsc04004-800-1.jpg)
![<p>"I work for Posh, which is our trailers here."</p>
<p>[Jocelyn gestures to the trailers.]</p>
<p>"These are a luxury, they've got five stalls in them!"</p>
<p>"I'm from Las Vegas, Nevada. Twenty-five years, born an' raised. But this is my first event here, servicing you guys as a provider, and I really do like you guys at this event."</p>
<p>"You guys have the Gibson brand theater over there, and I do got an acoustic guitar for my daughter. I do mess with ZTE (ZTE has a location nearby). I got a ZTE phone myself. My daughter's name is La'Tia, she is six years old, and she loves her acoustic guitar made by Gibson."</p>
<p><em>What do you like to do on the weekend?</em></p>
<p>"I'm not too much of a shopper, I'm a penny-pincher." </p>
<p>[Jocelyn laughs huskily.]</p>
<p>"I'm a penny-pincher!"</p>
<p>"Thank you James... have you checked out my rest room?"</p>
<p></p>](https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/WjrHNdLLz553ESl2gFMoyQ--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTYzOA--/https://s.yimg.com/uu/api/res/1.2/JUiM7IJ0CUmj8.Vw7T4Fcw--~B/aD05MzA7dz0xNDAwO2FwcGlkPXl0YWNoeW9u/https://www.blogcdn.com/slideshows/images/slides/376/239/1/S3762391/slug/l/dsc04015-800-1.jpg)
