CES 2008 day one: focus on interactivity

Despite months of preparation, there’s no good way to tackle 1.7 million net square feet of floor space spread between two convention centers and two hotels. It’s a bit overwhelming, but here’s today’s standouts:

There wasn’t a full press kit available for it, but Art.lebedev Studios was showing off an OLED keyboard, meaning every key was a display and could change icons, colors, display photos in each key and more. This is where a web connected camera is needed, as the press room computers I have to use don’t have a memory card slot to get at all the pictures and video I took today; but go to http://www.artlebedev.com/everything/optimus/demo/ for the official demo until I can upload the media I took. UPDATE: Here it is in person.

Several new interface devices were shown such as 3DV System’s ZCam. Similar to an advanced version of the PlayStation EyeToy, the ZCam has functions beyond gaming, as its gesture recognition software can control a wide variety of applications (similar to the interface Tom Cruise uses in Minority Report).

Sandio’s 3D mouse has two gaming-style analog sticks on the sides of the mouse’ combined with the standard movements, full X, Y and Z axis control over tilt, rotation and zoom are easily achieved. It’s fairly intuitive to use, and I was rotating a floating cube like a pro in no time. Besides better gaming control over movement, it has 16 programmable buttons and on-the-fly DPI switching for similar or less cost than Microsoft and Logitech’s gaming mice. Plus, the 3D control translates to all sorts of 3D applications, like animation, CAD or whatever. Just having so many mappable buttons would even simplify using common functions in programs like Word.

TN Game’s force-feedback gaming vest (which has been out for a while) and helmet provide another level of interactivity, using air compression to simulate hits to certain parts of the body when playing compatible games. It has a pretty small list of compatible games so far, and, unless it really catches on, support for the vest and helmet will remain low, which will keep them as only novelties for the hardest of hardcore gamers.

Electric Spin’s new Golf Launchpad model is a wireless golf sensor compatible with EA Sports’ Tiger Woods PGA Tour golf games, on all platforms, as well as Hot Shots Golf and it’s own swing analysing program. Unlike playing the game with a controller or keyboard, since you play using real clubs on the Golf Launchpad, you can actually go from newbie to golf pro without ever stepping on an actual course (and without embarrassing yourself in front of others as my poor swinging did). It also makes it easier to play golf in places where outdoor conditions aren’t always ideal (such as Alaska).

While I tried to look at consumer-ready products, 3M’s mobile projector technology caught my eye. Barely bigger than a adult male’s thumb, the projector can be put into any mobile device (like a camera phone, presentation pen or iPod add-on) allowing it to project its media onto any surface or screen. The prototype demo model could project a clear image even in normal lighting conditions and I was told that in a dark room the projection size could be 60″ or more. Although 3M reps couldn’t release any details, they said that there is a lot of interest in the technology and a device incorporating the mobile projector may even be released this spring.

A quick rundown of what else I saw:

Zagg’s Invisible Shied, a whole-device protective skin that’s virtually unscrachable and bubble free during application, without affecting touch sensitivity for touch sensitive devices;

A 48 GB Compact Flash memory card, the same physical size as any other CF card.

Ambient Devices’ 7-Day Forecaster that looks like a simple LCD clock – but instead of just time, can show weather, sports scores, stocks or whatever; a zero-click solution to information that’s always relevant without having to look it up on a computer each time.

V-Dimension’s solar-powered backpack and laptop case; well, the bag charges the device inside, so it’s not technically solar-powered itself, but you get the idea.

Standing lamps for the home that are also wireless speakers, again, with the info in the pictures. (this will all be updated once I get that info, so check back later).

Lauren Nelson, Miss America 2007, was also at the display area for children’s products and learning tools, teaching kids about Internet safety.

Other celebrities were supposed to be at various places during the show, but I was too busy to go looking for them.