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Fewer booth bikinis at CES? Is that possible?

An initial impression of this morning's exhibition halls revealed a possible restraint on the part of companies. Has the tech world finally made sexual progress?

Chris Matyszczyk
2 min read
Is full-body Lycra the new booth garb? Chris Matyszczyk/CNET

LAS VEGAS -- The readership here bathes in its sophistication.

It doesn't stoop to sexism. It believes the gratuitous use of the female body should be outlawed.

However, every year, it needs to be informed as to whether some company has decided to present scantily clad dancing girls in order to attract attendees to its wares.

Just, you know, for sociopolitical reasons.

In my duty as your representative, I stormed as many halls as my thighs could muster this morning. I kept one eye open for the sort of curious spectacles as that presented last year by robotics company TOSY.

Yes, bikini clad girls offering dulled dancing to hungover wanderers at 10:30 a.m.

I saw none. It doesn't mean they aren't here -- indeed, one diligent colleague says he saw some dancing girls on a stage in the South Hall.

However, an initial impression (which I reserve to change at a moment's notice) suggested that tech companies had managed to avoid at least some of the ultimate positions in crassness.

At least first thing in the morning.

The subject of so-called "booth babes" has tortured intact minds for some time. At last year's Computex in Taipei, women complained that tech companies had demanded they show more skin.

Conversely, at gaming expo ChinaJoy 2012, booth babes were banned, so as not to corrupt hitherto incorruptible teenage minds.

Of course, exhibitors at CES aren't shy to present attractive women, especially in an attempt to offset less attractive spiels.

But as one colleague just remarked to me: "I think I've seen more fluorescent full body Lycra bodysuits here than in the summer Olympics track and field competition."

I talked to one lady in a fluorescent green bodysuit. She was at the Tylt booth. I asked her about her suit. She said it was very comfortable for a 12-hour stretch.

Perhaps I am indulging in wishful thinking. I want to believe that there is a different way. Sex doesn't always sell, even though the French think it does.

Some more trawling around the halls might prove that nothing has changed, that exhibitors were merely waiting for the afternoon to produce jiggers.

By the way, I have been asked by the wise and worldly to point out that ViewSonic had flooded its booth with chicks. The evidence is below.

Josh Lowensohn/CNET