Winner: Augmented Reality #CES

This was my first CES, and I must say I was a bit disappointed. CES, also known as the Consumer Electronic Show is the biggest convention in Las Vegas showcasing the latest and greatest technological advances.

What I find strange about CES is that it is only open to industry affiliates - meaning you can't just come in, check things out and go home ... you gotta be in the biz!
If that is the case then why is it called the "consumer" electronic show? Kinda seems weird right? I digress ...

I arrived on the second day of the show, and had already heard that 3D TV and netbooks dominated this year. However, I would have to disagree; I believe augmented reality was really the top dog of the show - it just not might have been as clear.

I've spoken a lot about augmented reality as of late, and it is because you all need to become very aware of it. I strongly, strongly, strongly believe it carries the same amount of "buzz-ability" as the term social media did in 2009.

Augmented reality in very basic terms is taking your real world environment and integrating that with the virtual world. It's computer generated imagery superimposed on live video. Get it? It's not 100% virtual, and it's not 100% "real world." It's a hybrid.

People are turned on now more than ever to the digital world. You have people updating their Facebook statuses 24/7 and tweeting round the clock. It has to stop somewhere, right? Or does it? Augmented reality gives you the same enjoyment of the virtual world while enabling you to be in the "real world."

Ok, so what exactly does all this mean, and why was this so important at CES? The majority of displays at CES were in fact augmented reality - whether they were marketed that way or not.

Perfect example, take 3D television. You have in the very literal sense added another dimension to TV watching- the characters are now performing directly in front of you (literally). The 3D glasses that are required for you to enjoy this experience are a marketer's dream. Think about how many times you just zone out in front of the television. Your eye balls move around at any little noise or distraction around you. Marketers don't like that. You don't absorb the information the same way, which adds a variable to their marketing strategies. Perfect way around that is to put glasses on you which whether you realize it or not, serve as a reminder to your brain that you are engaged in an activity. That engagement will allow you to absorb more information, and process it. It's a pretty genius strategy to try and stop the steep decline in dollars spent on traditional commercial advertising.

I have to admit, I am curious to see where 3D TV goes because I don't know about you - but I am certainly not about to buy one. Mobility is a key factor in life for me, and this idea of presenting us with this technology that although may be great, but keeps me at home - is not appealing to me.

Although, it didn't just stop with the 3D TVs, gaming consoles have stepped up their game as well (ha, pun not intended). Remember the parrot? Perfect example of taking the seductive qualities of the virtual world and imposing them in the real world. Hello, augmented reality!

What's interesting too about this is that social gaming has taken off exponentially in recent years. Gone are the days of you sitting in front of the latest and greatest gaming console in your parent's basement. We love to share things in life. Think about it, how many people have you told about your highest score in Zelda, or Mario Brothers (wow I am dating myself!)? People LOVE to share their tricks and secrets in the gaming world. They crave that interaction. Hence why social gaming became such a sensation, and why most end users of social gaming don't even consider themselves "gamers."

Whether we realized it or not, by removing the labels on these two examples, they are shockingly similar as far as the experience they provide for the end user. We want interaction, and quality engagement - and even in a recession, we are willing to pay for it. (Farmville, anyone, anyone?)

Marketing buzz-word of 2010: Augmented Reality

Learn about it now folks!

PS. Posting a whole heck of a lot more about my observations on #CES, just have to get home from Vegas. HA! Oh what an adventure ...