The 2011 Consumer Electronics Show doesn't kick of until January 6th in Sin City, but that doesn't mean it's too early for the Consumer Electronics Association to sing the praises of the new devices that have knocked their socks off. The 2011 CES Innovation Awards were announced this past Friday. A panel of engineers, designer, and press techies took a gander at products in 35 consumer electronic categories to choose the best, brightest, and most innovative entries. And wouldn't you know it, a trio of GPS-related products made the list of cutting edge programs and contraptions.

In the "In-Vehicle Accessories" category, Firstech LLC's DroneMobile hardware and smartphone applications were recognized for their GPS tracking ability, as well its for its command over power locks, your trunk, and your car's ignition. In that same category, Magellan GPS's Roadmate 3065 Commuter was recognized for its Traffic Wakeup feature, which gives GPS users the  ability to get automatic traffic alerts. Magellan's innovative navigation device also offers a hands-free calling with advanced Bluetooth technology.

Finally, Recon Instruments was honored in the "Personal Electronics" category for inventing Transcend, the first pair of alpine goggles with real-time GPS data viewable through a head-mounted display system; in other words, the perfect device for exploring never before encountered ski trails without fear of getting lost.

All in all, it was a nice haul for GPS innovators. If you'd like to get a glimpse of all of the wondrous gear making the tech world a better place, they'll be in a special display at the 2011 International CES.