What does the Xbox have in common with the digital video recorder (DVR), high-definition television, the DVD, the Nintendo Entertainment System, the compact disc and the camcorder? Each bit of technology made its debut at the Consumer Electronics Show, arguably the largest tech-related trade show on earth.

Next week 140,000 geeks and gadget freaks will descend on Las Vegas and (largely) eschew wickedness for widgets. Gambling will take a back seat to gawking at gewgaws from Jan. 7-10 as some 2,700 exhibitors unveil 20,000 new products spread over 1.8 million square feet of convention hall. And what happens in Vegas, contrary to conventional wisdom, will likely not stay there. If device makers and content providers have their way, it will be beamed, streamed, Bluetoothed, plasma-screened, GPS'd, microscopically USB'd and otherwise hardwired into your home, office and car before too long.

Drooling yet? Relax. The tech world won't entirely transform next week, analysts say. "I expect this to be much more evolutionary than revolutionary," says Michael Gartenberg of Jupiter Research. So what can the average consumer get excited about at this year's show? Here are the people and trends to watch out for:

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