Wearable Devices: The Next “Smart” Platform

New open compute platforms are coming, with profound implications for devices with a screen and the companies that make them. Leveraging the Smartphone ecosystem and Moore’s Law, entrepreneurs are creating a new class of devices. These devices, built as general purpose compute platforms, are cheap enough and small enough to disrupt legacy closed, single function devices.

Start-ups and giant global companies like Sony Ericsson and Motorola have identified the wrist, or the Smart Watch, as the primary application to launch these new platforms. The Smart Watch is only the starting point, a beachfront for this opportunity.

Can the market for wearable devices expand beyond the wrist. Will a minimal interface, “Glance”, become a break-through, like multi-touch? Will Wearable Devices spawn an ecosystem of entrepreneurs building new Apps and services? What are the challenges of start-ups creating the Wearable Platforms?

Hear about opportunities and implications for entrepreneurs at the next MIT/Stanford Vlab event. Click here to register.

When:
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
6:00 – 7:00pm  Networking and Refreshments
7:00 – 8:30pm  Panel Discussion and Q&A

UPDATE:
CNET’s press coverage: http://news.cnet.com/8301-11386_3-57360777-76/when-will-wearables-be-wearable/

Augmented Reality

VLAB October EventAugmented-Reality holds the promise of merging the physical world with information, but the ‘killer app’ remains elusive. Today, the rise of the smartphone and tablet – with powerful 3D, 4G, and high-res cameras – combined with significant advances in computer-vision, are finally unleashing the full power of AR. Technology leaders such as Intel, Qualcomm, and Nvidia, are targeting AR’s disruptive potential on mobile advertising, gaming, and education, by heavily investing in next-gen AR platforms.

With a market size projected to reach $1.5 billion by 2015, leading brands, entrepreneurs and investors are developing AR applications that meld virtual experiences with everyday consumer lives. But will the mass market embrace augmented reality experiences? How will these developments change the game for retailers, advertisers, teachers, and game and mobile applications — and which monetization models will be most successful?

Click here for more details and to register.

This month’s event will feature a special pre panel demo exhibition reception with the leading augmented reality companies. Don’t miss the opportunity to experience these innovative AR experiences live and meet the founders of these technologies. Demos from Aurasma, Zugara, Total Immersion, SportVision, QualcommGoldRun and Vissee.

Moderator:
William “Whurley” Hurley, GM of Chaotic Moon Labs

Panelists:
Bruno Uzzan, CEO & Co-Founder, Total Immersion
Jay Wright, Senior Director of Business Development, Qualcomm
Vivian Rosenthal, Founder and CEO of GoldRun
Dr. Manu Kumar, Chief Firestarter, K9 Ventures

When:
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
6:00pm – 7:00pm: Networking and Refreshments
7:00pm – 8:30pm: Panel Discussion and Q&A

Got a cross-platform app for that?

According to a recent eMarketer article based on a report from DM2PRO and Quattro Wireless, apps for social networks in addition to mobile apps are under consideration by more marketers than ever before. Among those marketers who already had an app in 2009, Facebook was the leading platform.

Spending on social apps, however, will stagnate even though more marketers have already developed the applications.

Fewer than one-half of marketers created either a mobile or social app in 2009, but most plan to invest in a mobile app this year. The iPhone is the platform of choice, followed by Android.

There’s some solid reasoning behind the choice to move more resources to mobile. According to Scott Monty “The strategy: [is to] create more opportunity for engagement with customers. On social networks, we’ll see a greater opportunity for reach, targeting and sharing, but with mobile there’s more creative control and the ability to have a message stick with the recipient longer.”

The top one-third of marketers using mobile apps planned to up their investments by 75% or more. The reasons:

  • increase in mobile use by target audience
  • increased standardization in mobile
  • better tools to build mobile apps
  • and notably: the ability to create flashed based cross-platform apps.

Summary: during 2010 we are going to see interesting cross-platform app based campaigns leveraging each of  the distinct characteristics of social and mobile.