Less Techie, More Meaningful at CES

This is my seventh consecutive CES, and this year’s show was more about what people can do with technology rather than just tauting the new things technology can do. The core theme of Intel CEO Paul Otellini’s keynote was refreshing — we’re moving from a “go to Internet” to a more “proactive, predictive and context aware” Internet. To me that means the Internet will serve me more effectively the more I use it and the more comfortable I get sharing what I need or like most.

The wonders of Moore’s Law and silicon chip technology are marvelous. And sure, it’s great to see that new 45-nanometer transistors are helping create new and better energy-efficient devices. But it’s more meaningful when we can see how businesses and people are able to use technology in new ways to really improve what they do. That’s why I enjoyed seeing an Intel keynote that didn’t run down a laundry list of new products and feature. Instead, what we saw were a few great show-and-tells that focused on people and how Internet technology is helping us express ourselves, and connect easier and more deeply with those we care about. Sharing more of our interests on the Internet is “feeding the machine,” making the Internet more human-like and part of our daily lives.

It may seem impossible to map the whole real world onto the Internet, but it’s happening a little everyday.

Here are three fun clips from the Intel keynote, featuring singer Steve Harwell from the band Smash Mouth, showing how pro and amateur musicians can jam in new ways in the virtual world of Internet thanks for eJamming AUDiiO and Big Star