Depending on your point of view, I either had the great pleasure or misfortune of skipping out on CES 2011, easily the largest technology bonanza on Earth. Yet, with plenty of our clients attending and presenting at CES, we had a large contingent of Jumpsters on the ground in Las Vegas this year to take it all in. In addition to meeting new folks and testing out an endless supply of tablet computers and 3-D TVs, our team was there to collect insights and spot future trends.

Using the hybrid thinking lens that all Jumpsters employ, they created a quick collection of insights from CES that look beyond the face value of all the technology at hand. Their stories are below:

How to Stand Out Amongst the Crowd By Chris Weber
Need a new vacuum robot? Well, at this year’s CES, you'd be in luck. There are enough robot vacuums here to clean every nook and cranny of the Pentagon, even the secret spaces we don't know about. The question is, why should we care?

Technology vs. Needs By Clynton Taylor
CES is always a great showcase for what does, and does not work in product development. And 2011 was no different. Leaving 3-D TVs, tablet computers and robots aside, we focus on refrigerators - a stalwart of nearly every kitchen - to prove once again that focusing on people's needs pays huge dividends.

Betting on the Kinesthetic Experience By Alonzo Canada
Microsoft may not have been first to the game, but their new Kinect system promises to score where similar systems have not. By freeing gamers from controllers, a whole new world of emotions has been unleashed.

The Future of the Digital Car By Mike Smith
Once dominated by computer and TV makers, CES is increasingly a mash-up of technologies from every corner of industry, especially the automotive sector. It might have been hard to image ten years ago, but some of the biggest news coming out of CES in 2011 was delivered by companies named Audi and Ford.

Can Kinect Escape the Virtual Reality Trap? By Mike Smith
It's safe to say that Microsoft's Kinect system for Xbox is a wild success, and new revelations at CES promise more good times down the road. But, a big question reamins. Will expression recognition on Xbox Kinect equal better gaming or yet another failed attempt at virtual reality?

We'll continue to add more insights this week. I hope you enjoy!