• by Lydia Loizides , Op-Ed Contributor, March 28, 2007

So, if you’ve never been, you won’t know. But if you are in the know, it is the place to start scouting: Demo, the conference that happens several times during the year, where venture capitalists and the like go to see technologies that are on the “horizon.” Here are just a few that could impact our world of brand, content and technology.

Bling showcased one of the first Ajax-based (an asynchronous, JavaScript, XML application) Web clients for the mobile handsets. The software enables companies to build and deploy visually rich and data-heavy applications on mobile handsets that are viewed using the Bling Player. Currently, the company has mobile applications built with their product from customers including Jay-Z, Barry Bonds, Ninja Mobile, The Onion, Amp’d Mobile and GoTV Networks.

Eyejot is a client-free video messaging platform. Users create and receive video messages in a self-contained, spam-free format.  Eyejot runs on any browser and platform and features built-in support for iTunes (and iPods), along with mobile devices, and can be used in most social network environments.

Jaman.com is a social network that delivers independent films in better-than-DVD quality to both Macs and PCs over high-speed data networks. A custom player is required in order to view paid and free content, which is is pretty much international at this point.  Tools that enhance the experience include group discussion forums, tagging and search and recommendation.

CircleUp is an application that allows you to send a question to a group of people -- friends, family colleagues or customers -- and received the answers back in a single organized result.  Oh, and did I mention that it aggregates email, instant messaging and SMS responses?

SplashCast Media: A media syndication tool akin to a Brightcove, this platform allows users to create channels of missed media content -- music, photos, text, video and RSS feeds. These channels can be played on a Web page, blog or social network with the customized player. 

Mobio Networks enables users to create mash-up applications that act as if they “know” the user. The platform allows companies to create new applications from multiple content sources. Among the claims for Mobio: it’s able to deliver 1:1 personalized applications based on an individual’s tastes as well as demographic and geographic information. Also, consumers are reportedly able to use the applications in three clicks or less with minimal or no data entry.

Now, I appreciate that some of these companies may seem a little “pie-in-the-sky,” but consider this: The likes of Garage Band, Six Apart, and Skype were all demoed at Demo. Do you know of other sources to find the game-changers? You tell me.