Getting touchy, feely at the Consumer Electronics Show

It’s likely that “natural user interface” is a phrase we’ll all be hearing more of this year. Bill Gates used his keynote speech at this year’s tech fest that is the International Consumer Electronics Show to focus on the “second digital decade” and revealed that the future’s in our hands – literally.
Addressing the massed ranks of gadget fans and technology followers, thousands of which had reportedly queued for many hours to see guru Gates before he retires later this year, the Microsoft chairman revealed a future without the mouse and keyboard.
He spoke about screens located around the home which will be operated by touch or sound and which integrate seamlessly with each other.
Computers will be everywhere – not just on the desk but built into the desk – and people would be able to access their files and applications seamlessly on any device, be it a mobile phone, computer or television.
“No longer will users have to bridge between devices … when you get a new phone or want to borrow a device it will be a very simple thing to be up and runningwith all of your files and applications loaded automatically ” he said.
And he predicted that many of today’s web activities, such as online shopping or chat, would take place in virtual 3D environments.
Gates also demonstrated a very early prototype of what he called “visual recognition”, which he said would be available on future mobile phones.
That technology would allow users to point their handset’s camera at an object and have the phone detect what it is, as well as bring up any stored information about the object.
To find out more about this touchy, feely digital world, see the full webcast of the speech here.
Elsewhere at the show, companies have been displaying their wares – some more wacky than others. If you’ve ever wanted a remote control beer cooler, click here to see more.
And there’s plenty more. The LA Times has sent an entire team of reporters down to the show and is featuring a different gadget of day throughout. See the latest from them and give your verdict here.
The Consumer Electronics Show runs from today until January 10 in Las Vegas.