At C.E.S. 2014, a Battle for the Next Generation of Computing The International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, one of the largest technology trade shows in the world, is a reflection of the rapidly changing electronics industry. The trade show, which opens on Monday and is expected to attract about 150,000 attendees, wearable computers and Internet-connected cars will take the spotlight as some of the hottest new trends. That is a significant shift from last year's show, when many tech companies were highlighting new tablets and smartphones. The year before that, the convention had a fixation on lightweight notebooks. The industry is trying to move on to the "new new thing" now that the smartphone market is becoming saturated. Google's Glass, the connected monocle, and rumors of a so-called smartwatch coming this year from Apple, have tech enthusiasts and industry insiders buzzing about wearable computers. But there are plenty of reasons to be skeptical about the wearables category. For one, smartphones are already so versatile and portable, who needs yet another distracting screen? For the tech industry, much of 2014 will probably be spent determining whether wearables are a legitimate trend or a passing fad. The Consumer Electronics Association, which organizes the show, said a record number of automakers would be appearing this year, including BMW, Audi, Ford, Chrysler and Mercedes. Some automakers are expected to show their cars interacting with smartwatches, while others are expected to demonstrate self-driving cars. Gary Shapiro, chief executive of the association, says automakers have a growing interest in the tech industry because consumers have demanded stronger interaction between their mobile devices and their cars. And finally, after years of trial and error by TV makers, the so-called smart TV is finally starting to catch on. Many televisions coming out this year will include more sophisticated software and an Internet connection. The NPD Group, a research firm, found in a recent survey that people actually seemed to care about these features. But unlike the smartphone and tablet markets, which are dominated by two platforms, iOS and Android, the smart TV is largely unclaimed territory. Which company will conquer that big connected screen in the living room? That, in a nutshell, is what C.E.S. is all about this week: the battle to be in the next generation of computing, whether it is in your car, on your TV or on your wrist.