[DEMO 09] Due to the global recession, this was the quietest DEMO I have ever attended: only 39 companies presented instead of the 70 per session for the past year. This session was in fact very interesting, showcasing more realistic solutions regarding business models and Internet usages.
Here are the main trends that emerged at this session of DEMO:
Recession related solutions and better monetization models:
better monetization models such as Zuora that offers a monetization platform for Facebook developers, Home-Account that helps people select the best loan for home acquisition, Gazaro that brings the best deals to the users leveraging artificial intelligence and WebLegend that promises to prevent the 97% shoppers drop rate on e-commerce sites by personalizing shopping sites experience according to users’ behavior. Companies that still had an advertising-based business model came up with more realistic advertising solutions such as highly targeted and content related advertisements (Kutano) or more engaging advertising models using rich media and community interaction around a brand sponsorship (Sobees, Vokle).
Smarter and more Transparent Internet: better search, behavior and recommendation-based:
There is a lot to be done to improve search on the Internet, Google in fact is not the ultimate solution. Monitoring users behavior and recommendations helps to improve the search experience, products like Ensembli, that displays search results according to users taste and past content selection provide this kind of browser add-on. Xmarks that leverages the 600 million bookmarks collected by Foxmarks to recommend the best websites directly on the search results page is another example. Transparency with reputation monitoring is another side of this trend, PureWire (DEMO God Award) is a good example of what can be done in this area.
Leveraging social networking with innovative social interactions:
Improving the social interactions on the Internet will provide a more engaging experience within the social networking space. Vokle.com is a good example of this trend with its easy and free to use video conferencing capability integrated with collaboration tools (photo sharing only for now, other tools coming soon).
Aggregation and Unifying the User Interface for Communication Efficiency:
I am a highly multitasking person when it comes to my computer and my Internet activities and I always love solutions that prevent the fragmentation of my user experience. Going to one big window to another and switching applications constantly is annoying, especially on the phone. Many products that address this problem were presented at DEMO. A great example is Asurion Mobile Address Book that aggregates all the Internet communication channels (email, IM, social network profiles and status, pictures sites etc…) around the person in a single view. Other products in this trend category were: Jadoos that aggregates multiple applications in a single view accessible from any web page, Sobee the social networking aggregator, Gwabbit that instantly copy contact info found in email signatures directly to the address book in one click (I want it!).
Better connected devices with low-power consumption:
Two examples were shown: The low power Netbook-Tablet Touh Book and the ultra-low power Vue Wireless Network Camera from Avaak.
Ethical and green technology:
Obviously green tech is the fashionable word these days, eFormic presented a CO2 emission monitoring web app that will engage companies and brands all over the world. Silverstone Solutions won a DEMOGod Award for its kidneys transplant donors matching software.
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