CES 2012 kicks off with a flood of this year’s coming gadgets (video)

You’re going to see a whole lot of stories from us in the next four days, so fasten your seatbelts: This week is going to be one big flume ride through the consumer electronics industry.

The 2012 Consumer Electronics Show is where the U.S. tech industry gathers its forces to push into a new year. It’s a flood of new products, and it all started tonight with the first pre-show event, CES Unveiled, where the VentureBeat crew has just landed.

Although the tradeshow itself won’t start until Tuesday, members of the media were stuffing themselves into this ballroom to get a peek at some of the show’s highlights: Multi-touch screens, flying iPhone-controlled toy helicopters, Wi-Fi-enabled baby scales, updated Android tablets and lots of skinny, svelte Ultrabooks. (And once inside, many people were stuffing themselves with shrimp and weird blue cocktails.)

It’s not just about goofy gadgets. Read up on the CES trends that will shape tech in 2012, and then read our interview with Consumer Electronics Association president Gary Shapiro, who says CES “is doing phenomenally well.”

VentureBeat is sending its biggest ever team of reporters to the show this year. Dean Takahashi, Devindra Hardawar, Sean Ludwig, Christopher Peri and myself are on the scene, shooting video, taking pictures and filing stories.

For more gadget news, be sure to check out VentureBeat’s live coverage from CES 2012.

Got a hot tip about CES? Let us know.

Hold on tight, and keep your arms and legs inside the vehicle!