Comdex Fall 2000 Summary

Other Items

While on the show floor we were also able to gaze upon some technology that can really only be described as "neat." This factor plays a large role in the mindset of consumers, as these products are often the ones that bring the most attention. At this years Comdex, we ran across a few items that deserve a picture and a brief explanation.

First off is the Hitachi DVD-RAM camcorder. Able to record home movies on DVD-RAM discs, the camcorder actually records in MPEG2 format, making it the perfect companion to any home video editing freak. The discs are able to be rewritten as many times as wanted and are able to store from 60 minutes to 240 minutes of full motion video on a single disc, depending on compression.

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Also over in the Hitachi area was what could only be described as glass display. This was essentially a piece of glass, modified to have the properties necessary to display images from a standard LCD projector. The image is cast out from the projector and displayed on the glass, which is seemingly transparent without a picture on the display. The applications of such a display are countless, and image quality is great: only when one looks "past" the image can one see what is behind the glass.

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Finally we have one of the more curious items at the show. Once again, the Sony booth gathered quite a large crowd with the demonstration of a second generation of their robotic dog, the AIBO. Adding a few more sensors, servos in the ears for movement, a small camera in the head (for digital pictures), and some general enhancements, the AIBO ERS-210 is one step above its older brother. The AIBO proves to be quite a concept, as the dog does more than walk, it plays, learns, listens, and more. It just might make the perfect pet for those who can not have a real dog, but as of now it is still quite a few steps behind it's living brother.

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