Final news and notes from a week of madness at CES 2012:
Microsoft - It has been widely speculated that Microsoft decided to pull out of CES after this year because conference organizers decided they wanted a different company to deliver the annual keynote address. When CEO Steve Ballmer chose to have a full gospel choir accompany him on Monday by singing Tweets praiseworthy of Microsoft, it occurred to many in the room that a new speaker might be a really good idea in 2013.
e-Signatures – As previously covered in this space, there are several companies trying to gain market share for electronic signatures. One company in attendance this past week at CES was DocuSign who provides their e-signature service for free. The company claims users are processing over 1 million documents per day using their technology, which is an impressive number and a good indication that e-signatures are going to become more widely accepted over time.
Smart garage doors - Craftsman got some attention at CES with their “smart garage door” openers. From any IOS enabled device, users can remotely monitor, open, or close their garage doors now which is a handy tool for those of us who wonder ten miles after leaving the house whether we closed the darned thing or not.
Qualcomm – When you think of Qualcomm, the company that for many years has been the leading provider of wireless chipsets, you don’t associate them with consumer products. So it was a surprise when they showed up at CES this past week with their first consumer product ever. It’s called Tagg, a GPS device that will keep tabs on your pooch as he or she roams the landscape. The product was just launched last August and it’s been used for tracking the movements of dogs, cats, and bunnies (yes, bunnies.)
Zienon – One of the major themes at this year’s show was the rise of “smart TVs.” One company seeking to cash in on that new technology is Zienon who is seeking to build in gesture recognition sensors for new TVs. It would not be a surprise to see attendees at next year’s CES waving their hands frantically in front of the latest models.
MultiTouch & ePawn – A number of companies are taking touch screen, flat panel technology to new levels with some creative uses. At a press event for start-ups before the show kicked off, a company called MultiTouch showed off a 55 inch interactive multimedia display that was impressive. Another company, ePawn, is using the same concept for interactive gaming, where popular cell apps can be migrated to a highly interactive screen that uses real game pieces.
Y-cam – CES is not necessarily a big show for security cameras, but among those who were there was Y-cam who brought out some impressive new models. Their cameras provide high-quality video and true night vision up to 15 meters even in pitch black. And the apps (for mobile use) and software upgrades are free.
Dream Cheeky – This Hong Kong company had one of the more interesting tech approaches. Their products have no real serious technology application other than to turn the workplace into one big playroom. Their booth showcased one product that was a portable electronic drum set and another that shot foam rubber tipped “missiles” across the room. As the company explains, Dream Cheeky “supplies customers with gadgets they need to harass coworkers.” And why not?
Land of Lines - This was one of the most well-attended CES shows in quite a while. Las Vegas was jammed and it takes a lot to fill up that town. The operative word here is lines. Lines for coffee, press conferences, lunch, dinner, taxis, shuttles, restrooms, booth tours, you name it. If this is a sign that both the economy and the tech industry as a whole are headed for an upswing, then 2012 may turn out to be very good year indeed.
Comments