Five Lasting Impressions From The CES Show Floor

1. Worlds Collide

Whoever positioned the entrance to the AVN Adult Entertainment Expo 2009 event right next to the CES show floor entrance at the Sands Convention Center has a wicked sense of humor. The skimpily clad AVN attendees mingling in the hallways with laptop-toting CES-goers offered some hilarious 'Only in Vegas' moments, and harried security guards were continually shooing curious onlookers away from the AVN Expo entrance.

2. Steve Ballmer Is Ready To Joke About Yahoo

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer has apparently put the whole Yahoo thing behind him to the point where he's willing to joke about it.

In his CES keynote, as Ballmer discussed the implications of always-on connectivity, a humorous series of Ballmer's recent mock IM discussions flashed up on the big screen, one of which contained a message from ex-Yahoo CEO Jerry Yang that read "Why don't you ever respond to my Facebook friend requests?"

Another IM window from Bill Gates urged Ballmer to have fun at CES, but to stay away from "that other conference."

3. Water, Water, Everywhere

Isn't it time to retire the old pouring-water-on-the-laptop trick? Suggestion to ruggedized notebook vendors: Why not try dunking an entire bottle of high-grade maple syrup, a gallon of diesel, or perhaps a vial of sulfuric acid on a notebook keyboard?

Seriously though, with all the waterproofing demos, it's worth pondering the question of whether companies may simply be trying to get us ready for the possibility of sea levels rising as a result of global warming, an eventuality that would obviously require all consumer electronics to be waterproof. Yeah, that's the ticket!

4. Spy Cam Proliferation

The miniaturization of video camera technology has led to all kinds of new, video-enabled consumer electronics products. Talk about disruptive technology! But while it's great that we can now buy a video camera that's smaller than a pack of chewing gum, these devices are stoking the fires of voyeurism in new and scary ways. How long before the lawsuits start flying over the illegal use of these devices?

Heck, even children's toys now have video cameras. Hong Kong-based WowWee Technologies' SpyBall comes in a package that urges kids to use it to chase their family dog or spy on their siblings. That doesn't sound like much fun for Fido, and it's likely to force Mom and Dad to play peacemaker in more video-related feuds amongst the kids.

This is progress? Whatever happened to kids toys that educated while they entertained? Soon, nothing will happen inside or outside the home that isn't being documented by hidden cameras. And what a world that will be.

5. Despite The Economy, Folks Can Still Dream

Given the economic doldrums, it's not surprising that this year's CES was more subdued than in years past. But certain areas of the CES show floor were still buzzing with excitement. Big screen LCD and plasma televisions were one example, with throngs of starry-eyed conference-goers wandering slowly through the halls housing the latest advancements in display technology, and perhaps dreaming of one day seeing one hanging in their living rooms.