Entertainment Technology Center @ USC

Since the release of “Robosapien” in ‘04, robot fans have been anxious to see what’s happening each year at the WowWee booth.  And this year they didn’t disappoint with everything from animatronic-enhanced plush toys and lightweight remote-controlled planes to walking, talking “entertainment robotic companions.”

However, WowWee also announced it will diversify its ’09 product line to include micro projectors for iPods, a transforming spy-cam, and robots that beatbox…

Entering the world of telepresence gear, WowWee’s Spyball is a robotic ball that opens up to become a remote controlled, WiFi-enabled rechargeable spy-cam. Spyball can transform from ball to camera (and back again), while capturing video and still images.  It’s outfitted with wheels for mobility and 360-degree turns.

WowWee is also showing its Cinemin suite of portable micro projectors, powered by TI’s DLP technology, that have been designed to work with mobile devices including the iPod and iPhone.  The line includes the Cinemin Swivel pico projector, a lightweight micro projector with an expandable SD card memory slot, 3-hour battery and an adjustable 90-degree hinge for ceiling projection.

Where to see it:

• Sands 72205

Elliott Hedman of the MIT Media Lab is demonstrating a cute wristband with built-in sensors for measuring viewer response to entertainment.  The sensor detects changes in skin properties.  The data is wirelessly fed to software he has developed on a one-laptop-per-child computer (unit in background of photo).  He can measure attributes related to the levels of viewer involvement.

This technology would be good for measurements on children, since it is very non-threatening.  It could also be used on adults.

Where to see it:

• Sands 73837

Vuzix is demonstrating an early prototype of 3D video glasses with a built in camera linked to software for an augmented reality experience.

Unlike purely video viewing glasses, the new Vuzix model is constructed with see-through displays – along the lines of heads-up displays in aircrafts and cars – so you can see the world through the video. Motion sensors in the glasses allow the projected image to move with head motion for more immersive game play. The camera captures and processes what is being viewed.

In the demo, a handheld piece of paper is seen in the glasses as the base of a 3D architectural visualization. The visualization moves as the paper is moved.

The new model glasses without the camera are going to be on the market in late February. At last year’s CES, Vuzix showed band-styled glasses for 3D viewing with motion sensors, but without the heads-up ability to see the outside world.

Where to see it:

• Sands 73810

As consumers acquire more and more digital content, they quickly run into the problem of how to navigate through it all.  Ireland-based Amulet Devices attempts to address the problem with their voice-enabled remote control and software.

Currently, the remote works with software that sits on top of Vista Media Center, then via the remote, users can speak a command such as: “Play Artist Sting”.  Amulet Devices is planning future products that would expand voice control to home automation.  So you will be able to fulfill all your Sci-Fi fantasies of walking into a room and simply saying “Lights” (or for you Demolition Man fans… “Illuminate”). 

But as digital content grows, it becomes increasingly important to address how users will interact and access their content.  Both CE and content companies should work together to enable the consumer to get what they want as simply as possible. This not only means solving interoperability, but developing UI and other human interface systems that work intuitively.

Click here for a video demonstration.

Where to see it:

• Sands 72230

Boxee, which is developing a free and open source media center software system, proves that there still is money out there for promising entertainment technology.  Boxee, which just raised $4 million in Q4, was demoing its software prior to the show.

The company’s Avner Ronen reported that there are 100,000 using the free software in its current alpha stage, and he hopes to get that number to one million in 2009.

Early users report that Boxee not only handles local and networked media well, but also integrates Internet services such as Hulu, Shoutcast, CBS, Comedy Central, Flickr, and Netflix streaming video.

Boxee extends the functions of the Xbox Media Center to online video streaming along with a social network within the app so friends can rate and recommend things to watch.

Currently, Boxee can stream content from the Internet to your TV but only if you are running an OSX 10.4 or 10.5 computer, AppleTV, or Ubuntu system. The alpha stage involved an invite system, but it looks like things will change tomorrow when Boxee becomes available to everyone.

Where to see it:

• Sands 73839, Sands IP204