LAS VEGAS -

As the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) gets under way in Las Vegas this week, revealing new and concept technology to the public, AOL Autos had its own announcement to make.

As attendees of CES, the site revealed Tuesday its new Technology of the Year Award. The inaugural award — which is designed to give shoppers a “clear grasp of which emerging technologies provide a positive or negative impact on the ownership experience and vehicle safety”  — will be presented at CES 2013.

The award is also meant to separate for consumers “the truly significant, consumer-beneficial advancements from the hyperbole of ‘new and better,’" the company explained. 

So just who is going to decide which automotive technological advancements are worth consumers’ time?

AOL Autos has assembled a judging panel to evaluate technology advances introduced each year, which includes experts from Engadget, Autoblog and industry experts, as well as AOL Autos staff.

In addition to AOL’s editors, “the panel includes people who have demonstrated a unique understanding of what separates well-executed in-cat technology from bad: Tony Fadell, closely associated with the iPod; author and car-advice expert Lauren "The Car Coach" Fix; and Shelby "The Teen Car Coach" Fix,” company officials noted.

The categories evaluated by these judges for the TOY award will include telematics, connectivity and active safety. 

Throughout the year, judges will sift through new offerings in the following categories and will announce a group of finalists in those three categories in November at the Los Angeles Automobile Show.

But after that, the public will be asked to weigh in to choose a final winner.

Between the announcement of the category finalists at the 2012 Los Angeles Auto Show and the TOY presentation at the 2013 CES, the public will be invited to vote on the TOY.

“The top vote getter from the public will carry the weight of one judge on the panel in determining the overall AOL Autos TOY,” officials explained.

Commenting on the news, David Kiley, editor-in-chief of AOL Autos noted, "AOL Autos is the obvious source to bring together the best and brightest arbiters of automotive and electronic communications hardware into one industry award.

"Tapping into the expertise of AOL Autos, Autoblog, Engadget, AOL is positioned to evaluate and ultimately name an annual Technology of the Year winner,” he added.

Sifting Through Technology

In introducing the new award, AOL Autos again reiterated that throughout the year, the company and its partners will report on each new system and significant upgrade automakers and suppliers release to the public, via the award’s website.

"U.S., European and Asian automakers have all been introducing new and branded technologies in the hopes of drawing buyers to entertainment and connectivity in their vehicles, rather than traditional selling points of quality, horsepower and design,” officials noted.

“And consumers are responding by making choices, and spending thousands of extra dollars, on the systems they feel will be the most capable,” they stressed.

The companies contend that their regular evaluations of technological advancements will organize critical reviews and news about emerging and changing technologies.

"The time has come to offer the public a source of news and ratings on these systems to demystify them, and to hold automakers and their suppliers to a rigorous evaluation process,” Kiley added.

“It is clear to us that these systems are what’s making or breaking the introductions and reputations of new vehicles," said Kiley. "How well these systems are designed and executed is where consumers are making a lot of their to-buy, or not-to-buy decisions,” he concluded.