CES products that might impact learning

The Consumer Electronics Show took place in Las Vegas January 8-11. The show is a yearly pilgrimage for those involved with the design, development, manufacturing, distribution and integration of consumer electronics products – or anyone who just likes to check out some pretty cool gadgets.

Consumer Electronics Show

I like to read the CES reviews on CNet each year to scope out products that could potentially impact the learning space. When’s the last time a technology used for learning was intended to do so? Podcasts, blogs, wikis, Flash and video games all started as communication and entertainment efforts that eventually impacted the learning industry. Authorware, LMSs, testing software and Captivate are a few exceptions, but mainly I look to entertainment and communication technologies to find the next “thing” that might impact the learning industry. Here are a few to keep an eye on.

3D TV and LCD
3D TVs and monitors can take learning immersion to another level. 3D TVs will be available at a consumer price and offered by LG in late 2009 or early 2010. Simple 3D technology has been around in monitors for a few years, but the market hasn’t penetrated beyond gamers. As the technology becomes less expensive and more immersive and consumers ask for the experience on the computer monitor after watching 3D TV in the home, maybe we’ll begin to see learning games and simulations in 3D – after someone creates a 3D authoring tool. If that happens, I’m sure we’ll see a few tutorials in 3D as well – yippee!

There was also new generation 3D LCD monitors at CES.
http://ces.cnet.com/8301-19167_1-10134983-100.html?tag=mncol;title
http://ces.cnet.com/8301-19167_1-10134449-100.html?tag=mncol;title

Boxee
It’s basically a media object aggregator / repository. Can this technology be used to aggregate and manage learning objects, like it does media elements?

Minoru 3D Web Cam
This web cam has two cameras that deliver pictures to the view in 3D. It brings 3D video recording to the desktop and directly to the consumer. It does require 3D glasses to view the 3D video, but that’s a small price to pay. OK – everyone make sure they have their 3D glasses ready for the next web conference.

Chumby
I’ve known about the Chumby for over a year now, but at CES Chumby and Samsung have partnered to create a digital photo frame that enables wireless updates from a photo sharing site like Flickr. Chumby’s wireless information transfer and open widget development community might provide opportunities for quick learning vignettes delivered to you right at your desk. Better yet, someone could synch the Chumby display with an email and calendaring program and display job aides and quick references based on the contents of email and activities scheduled in the calendaring program for some just-in-time learning.

Video Eyewear
Watch a private video display or experience augmented or mixed reality on mobile devices through video eyewear, all while seeing the world around you. And, the Vuzix glasses look cool too. Imagine sales people, medical technicians, machine operators, etc. being able to view training videos on demand, as needed . . . by putting on a pair of sunglasses.

TruMotion Remote
This technology comes from Sixense Entertainment, which first developed it to track the head positioning of F-16 and F-18 jet pilots. Imagine Nintendo's Wiimote, but with unlimited motion to mouse control. While the Wiimote is awesome, range of movement is basically limited to forward/back, up/down. The precise motion sensing of the TruMotion remote has implications for better mimicking “real world” experiences in learning games and simulations where precise motions are important. This one, along with desktop 3D is getting us closer to virtual reality.

Check out this demo of the remote in action - http://engineeringtv.com/blogs/etv/archive/2008/11/25/sixense-truemotion-controller-demo.aspx

Thought Control
You got it – “Thought Control.” This is way cool . . .and potentially creepy at the same time. Mattel’s Mindflex game let’s you control the height of a floating ball with your thoughts as you move it around a course. A headset measures your level of concentration. The more you concentrate, the more control you have over the floating ball.

As the CNet reviewer indicates, the novelty of this game will most likely fade quickly. But, this product could certainly impact learning as the technology evolves. Mattel indicates that future versions might respond to fear, anxiety, happiness or frustration. Imagine the technology as part of simulations or assessments to gauge where learners struggled (fear, anxiety, frustration) or felt confident (happiness). If nothing else, imagine the new version of the “happy sheet” (Level 1 course evaluation) with this technology applied.

There were hundreds of products at CES. I’ve only noted a few that I think might impact the learning industry. Check out the CES site on CNN - http://ces.cnet.com/. Which products listed here do you think will impact learning the most in the years to come? What other consumer electronic products are there that will impact learning?