Tech Talk: Trends!

As we enter this brand-new decade, it makes sense that the 2010 International Consumer Electronics Show held in Las Vegas in January would kick off some major tech trends and reveal crazy-cool products. The world's largest technology trade show included more than 2,500 companies and celebs like Tommy Lee, Taylor Swift and  Richard Dreyfuss – as well as bloggers, geek gods and goddesses, buyers and industry leaders. The displays seemed endless, but I targeted such "TechZones" as Kids@Play and Mommy Tech. The following are a few trends for parents and kids to watch in the coming decade:

1. Meet George Jetson: The family of the very near future will be very well connected. I'm pretty sure George and Jane didn't have to worry about "sexting," but parents will be seeing an influx of new technology in various realms and need to be in the know. “When you see all the gadgets and gizmos, it reinforces the fact that we need to be literate,” says James Steyer, CEO and founder of Common Sense Media, a nonprofit that helps parents navigate the rapidly evolving gaming, entertainment and communications world. "Parents have to do their homework."


2. Got Glasses?: Major electronics companies are heavily invested in 3D televisions, so learn to love those pesky, unflattering glasses. Beginning in the middle of this year, some satellite cable providers will begin broadcasting a few channels in 3D. The good news is that if you're properly equipped, you can watch sports and other live events as though you are there but with a great seat.


3. Get In the Game: Play against yourself – or the world. Draw something and watch it come to life. Chat with players. Stand up and interact. Play in 3D. These things and more are coming to a gaming console near you.


4. Channel Surfing: When you're ready to sit down to watch something in the near future, it might go something like this: First, you select a movie or TV show from one of several providers (NetFlix, Amazon, to name a couple). You put on your 3D glasses (see #1) to watch, then remember that you are taking the kids skiing tomorrow, so you click over to check the weather and conditions at Big Bear. You decide to share those conditions with your Twitter followers. Then you remember you need to call your mom and ask her to feed the cat, so you get her on Skype only to discover that she's watching the video you uploaded of your daughter's talent show on YouTube. And you never even left the sofa.


5. Commute and Compute: See #4, only you'll be able to do all that in the car, too (plus broadcast your GPS coordinates and make dinner reservations in Big Bear).

Tech Talk: Digital Parenting 101

If I left Jack to his own "devices" (his Nintendo DS or Leapster, among others), I'm pretty sure he would test the limits of how long the human child can go without water and sleep. Like most male brains that age, Jack's is obsessed with two things: video games and poop humor, which thankfully have not become too interwined.

That's just one of the reasons I decided it was important to check out the exhibitors and panelists at last weekend's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. This gaming, gadget, entertainment and communications granddaddy of tradeshows provides a roadmap to our future, giving us a glimpse into how we will consume entertainment, get work done at the office, chat with our friends, access the media, stay organized, get from one place to the next and relax.

The key message for parents? Stay in the game. Don't fall victim to the I-can't-set-the-clock-on-my-VCR syndrome. Educate yourself on everything your kids are interested in and participate in social media.

"When you see all the gadgets and gizmos, it reinforces the fact that we need to be literate," says James Steyer, CEO and founder of Common Sense Media, a nonprofit that helps parents navigate the rapidly-evolving gaming, entertainment and communications world. The San Francisco-based, nonpartisan organization takes a "sanity over censorship" approach to evaluating all the media and entertainment out there, stressing the fact that we can't throw a blanket over everything and hope our kids won't see it.

Steyer, a father of four, attended CES and is excited about all the new technology coming our way. "But it's critical that they [parents] be digitally literate," he says. "We have to educate ourselves, our kids, our teachers."

It's our parental responsibility, he adds, to know about the technology that's out there. Join Facebook. Learn the ins and outs of Twitter. Play your kids' games. "You can't bury your head in the sand; parents have to do their homework," Steyer adds.

My daughter Kate created this self-portrait using the iPhone app Old Booth.

With all this new technology, of course comes parental anxiety – and even more technology that will not only create solutions but also fear. What about "sexting"? Cyberbullying? Sharing stuff on Facebook that you'd rather they didn't? Those are real issues, but parents shouldn't think that monitoring devices, software or built-in GPS tracking systems are the only answer.

"Education and responsibility are the right approach," he says. Set clear limits for phone and screen time and talk to your kids (early and often) about the ethics and responsibilities – as well as dangers – of these devices and communication tools.

The good news, Steyer adds, is that all this new technology opens up new possibilities. And schools and governments need to integrate new technology, too. Teachers should encourage children to blog. Parents should download podcasts. Kids should be app savvy. We should play games with our families, text our children and Skype the grandparents.

For a good start, check out Common Sense's New Year's resolutions for the tech-ready family. And then get ready for the brave new world, coming to you in 2010.

The Consumer Electronics Show, Abridged

Husband Steve is traipsing through the monolithic Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this week, and I've been following his every Twitter move to get a few insights here and there. These little snippets are unverified (not that I doubt him, but he is probably tired and bombarded by shiny objects) but nonetheless interesting:

• The future of communication will be pen to dialtone to email (that'll make texting either easy or obsolete ... can't wait)

• 66 percent of adults use social media (yes, I'm a Facebook addict when I'm avoiding stuff I don't want to do)

• Speaking of which, Facebook adds 450,000 new members every day (Whoa)

• 50 percent of Google searches were from iPhones (I can account for some of those ...)

• Nero's at Caesars has a "rockin'" filet (OK, that one just made me mad)

• 1 out of 3 households has a DVR (couldn't live without it)

More to come, I'm sure. Stay tuned ...