CeBit 2004

Tech show has nifty new gadgets

By MIKE BERMAN
Scripps Howard News Service
June 02, 2004

Now, let's see, do I have everything?

Got my pen, notebook, tape recorder - yet something seems to be missing.

It's PEOPLE! I forgot to bring people - and a few more exhibitors.

This year's CeBit America, an annual technology trade show, was held in the hallowed halls of the Javitts Center in New York. It attracted a grand total of "10,063 net buyers" during its three-day run - exactly what that means is a mystery to me, but I hope it doesn't reflect total attendance at the show. Also there were fewer exhibitors than were at last year's show - about 360 - which the show's organizers attributed to the fact that some of the larger U.S. companies have abandoned the trade show business.

But there were a few bright spots among the exhibitors on the show floor.

Gabrielor, a new company that is the brainchild of Richard Jung, has developed a rounded keypad, which we might soon see on digital phones, remote controls and other mobile devices.

According to the company's press release, the concept is simple. "The geometric arrangement of the keys is based on the eye's tendency to focus on the center of objects. They are arranged in a clockwise order to provide the easiest and fastest way for inputting data. The inside circle consists of the most frequently used letters and numbers for quick and easy use. The outside circle contains less frequently used letters and additional function keys. All of the keys can be quickly accessed with a single touch with one finger - making message writing and note taking a simple task."

Simply put, the rounded keypad will eliminate the tedious task of having to push number keys on a digital phone's keypad several times to select the correct letters in order to send text messages.

The long-awaited OQO from OQO Inc. was also there.

I've been waiting for two years to play with what many have dubbed the ultimate geek gadget, which is a fully-functional PC that is about the size of a paperback book.

The only problem I had was navigating its small keyboard, but that is easily remedied - although you sacrifice its portability - by attaching it to its docking station which allows you to use a full-size keyboard, monitor and mouse. Expect to see it on store shelves sometime this fall at a retail price of less than $2,000.

Also, security was a major issue with companies such as Intelligent Computer Solutions showing off its latest computer-busting forensics rig that police can use to extract data from any PC.

Also, Pam Gupta of OutSecure explained why security has to go much farther than the PC. Of course the ever-popular satellite shows were there, with Pepcom's Digital Experience kicking off the week and ShowStoppers showing off the wares of its clients on Tuesday night.

But the thrill was gone. The Pepcom show, which usually fills Manhattan's Metropolitan Pavilion with exhibitors, was a mere shadow of its former self. And Showstoppers, which moved from one of the major hotels in the city to the Ziff Davis corporate headquarters, featured the same companies that were at the Digital Experience or on the CeBit show floor.

Hopefully, as the economy improves (George W. says it is!), we'll see a return of many of the companies that have shunned shows of this type to balance their budgets and again be able to see everything that is new and cool in the tech biz under one roof.