EYE-CANDY ON DISPLAY AT 2010 CES
Mathew Smith
The International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is the marquee event in the world of technology each year. It is a trade show that brings the biggest names in consumer electronics together for four days of dazzling technology and impressive innovations. Since its start, the CES has increased its size 11 fold to 3,030 exhibitors and 130,000 attendees. This year more than 2,500 companies introduced more than 20,000 new products, kicking off the next decade of technological innovation.
The 2009 CES had a wireless theme; wireless chargers, wireless USB 2.0, wireless car stereos and so on. With a record 330 new exhibitors, major technology trends unveiled on the 2010 CES floor included advancements in 3D technology, mobile DTV, tablets, netbooks, eReaders, apps, connected TVs, embedded internet technologies and green technology. Last year Palm took home the grand prize with the release of the Palm Pre, however this year Panasonic would take home the honors. The 2010 CES Best in Show award went to Panasonic and their 3D Hi-Def VT25 plasma TV series.
The VT25 will be among the first 3D-capable flat-panel HDTV’s available for sale in the U.S. The set, expected to be released to the public in the spring, will include one pair of 3D glasses--every other 3D set announced at the show lacked included glasses. The 3D capability is made possible by employing an active LC shutter system. The right and left lens in the glasses alternately darken and lighten, too quickly to perceive, while the TV synchronously displays the corresponding specific images for both the right and left eyes. The result is a stereoscopic 3D effect that, in the case of the VT25 mated to full-resolution 3D content, preserves all 1080p pixels for each eye -- hence Panasonic's term "Full HD 3D."
Among the 20,000 new products released comes a new gizmo that lets adrenaline junkies capture their skiing adventures. Liquid Image released its new 335 Snow Camera Goggle, ski goggles with a built-i
n video camera. The hands-free snapper has a 5-megapixel-image sensor that's capable of recording 720x480-pixel videos with audio. Its controls are laid out on the right side of the goggles and are large to facilitate users wearing gloves.
Then comes the Light Touch from Light Blue Optics, an interactive projector with a surprisingly accurate touch response. If you've ever watched the motion user interface scene from Minority Report and thought to yourself, "I WANT THAT," this is the device for you. At its core, the Light Touch is a simple handheld computer running Windows CE, however it uses holographic laser tracking to project a 10.1-inch virtual touch screen onto any flat surface. The laser also ensures that the image stays in constant focus even across long distances.
With the Light Touch from Light Blue Optics makes everything you touch an interactive computer screen.
Courtesy of LightBlueOptics.com
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