Special to the Director's Cut BlogBy Jay Gray, NBC News
The center of the technology universe is in Las Vegas right now.
The annual Consumer Electronics Show is underway, revealing a first look at the coolest, cutting edge TVs, gadgets and gizmos that we will all be drooling over in the next few months.
It is a first hand look at the future, technology that many believe will begin to reshape our lives. "Habits will change, families will change," says TheNewSimple.com founder and Today Show technology editor Paul Hochman.
A big part of that change is the tablet computer, a slim touch-screen that some say will replace the laptop. 80 new tablets are being introduced at this year's consumer electronics show, along with every accessory and application you can imagine.
The way we watch TV is changing as well, and so is the set itself. 3-D has exploded and there is talk of soon being able to watch without glasses. Video conferencing has also taken a huge step forward. Creative has created an HD version it believes will change the game.
"We want to make this very affordable very accessible for people," says Creative vice president Phil O'Shaughnessey. "We want people to have an experience just like somebody else is in the room with them."
Another major shift: Accessing the web on your television. Dozens of boxes on display at CES will do that, starting at $90. "One of the things people don't realize yet is how much how much more of the world they're searching for will be at their fingertips," Hochman says.
