The Selfie Stick – How a Glorified Monopod/Boom Arm for Mobile Devices Stole the Show at CES 2015
This year's Consumer Electronics Show attracted an attendance of more than 150,000 industry insiders who were privileged enough to gain access to some of the most exciting upcoming technologies.
There were some very interesting and potentially groundbreaking technologies introduced at the event, and yet, despite all the innovation and powerhouse products that were shown off that day, there was one simple, cheap item that literally seemed to be overshadowing everyone – the controversial, yet increasingly popular selfie stick.
Left and right people posted to Twitter and other social sites complaining about selfie stick users and criticizing them for being “too lazy to take a conventional selfie,” or "too obsessed with themselves to cover the event.” While there were certainly plenty of people using their selfie sticks to take selfies, many of the selfi-stickers were members of the press just trying to get a better angle in crowded situations, holding their mobile camera at a distance to get a better overall shot with a larger backdrop.
With the majority of the attendants at CES 2015 being techies, journalists, photographers, and other professionals and enthusiasts, all of whom would be naturally inclined to want to share their CES experience with the world (which of course would entail periodic selfies posted to social sites and blogs) - it really isn't surprising that the selfie stick became such a hot product at one of the biggest tech events of the year.
Is the Negative Attention a Good Thing Though?
According to several reporters with sites like Mashable and The Times of India, the selfie stick was seen more frequently, and talked about more often, than any other invention, concept, or product showcased at CES 2015. How could something so simple attract so much attention? Well, we should specify that much of that attention has come in the form of negative criticism.
There are apparently a lot of people that despise the egotistical act of taking selfies, and it seems that the name “selfie stick” may have slightly tarnished the subtle awesomeness of this new universal monopod/boom arm for mobile devices.
One thing is certain – the negative PR certainly didn't hurt the sales of the selfie stick during or following CES 2015. There are a number of manufacturers and suppliers of selfie sticks, but the company selling the item at this year's show was Motion Systems (TheSelfieStick.com) – a New Jersey-based manufacturer and wholesaler.
A Tool for Selfie-Taking “Tools,” or an Advancement in Mobile Photography?
Every since the three-day event (Jan 6th - 9th) came to a close at the beginning of this month, the techsphere has been rife with buzz about the selfie stick, including rumors about the inventor of the original selfie stick, and even lists of the best selfie sticks from different brands.
Regardless of your opinion, it can't be denied that the selfie stick greatly extends your photographic reach and flexibility, giving you the ability to hold your mobile device's camera in angles that would not otherwise be possible. Some selfie sticks are also being sold with optional Bluetooth add-ons that allow for remote capture; so you could perch the monopod somewhere and then stand afar for a remote shot. Overall, our conclusion is that the selfie stick will become a fairly popular item with mobile photographers, members of the press, and self-centered socialites alike.
