I believe that science fiction is reality catching up to the future. Others say that science fact is the science fiction of the past. Regardless, the gap between science fact and science fiction is fascinating to me, especially as it applies to computers.

My partners and I spend time at CES each year along with a bunch of the founders from different companies we’ve invested in due to our human computer interaction theme. In addition to a great way to start the year together, it gives us a chance to observe how the broad technology industry, especially on the consumer electronics side, is trying to catch up to the future.

eMarketer released some new data yesterday with the most detailed breakdown of the mobile advertising market I’ve seen to date. eMarketer have a history of being amongst the most bullish on this market. They were the first company to predict that 2011 mobile ad spend would top $1bn in the US, and they are predicting big growth again for 2012. Their new figures predict US mobile ad spend will reach $2.6bn in 2012, 80% up on the 2011 figure of $1.45bn (which was significantly higher than the $1bn eMarketer had forecast). Moreover, as you can see from the inset chart there is significant growth still to come.

Fred Wilson wrote two posts in 2010 that were very influential with the startup community.

The titles were:
Mobile First, Web Second
Mobile First, Web Second (continued)

If you’re in the minority that never read these posts – you should.

I know that they really impacted an entire cohort of startups because every company that was coming to pitch me businesses was (is) saying, “I’m a ‘mobile first’ company.”

This chart (data from Comscore, published on Vator.tv) shows that younger people are more ‘ad-blind’ than their elders, as shown by immediate recall. To me this is evidence that advertising works less well than it used to. It is interesting that delayed recall is better for millenials, and I think that probably reflects greater loyalty to brands that have genuinely impressed. Millenials are people born in the 1980s and 1990s, now aged 13-31.

Behind every successful Internet and mobile technology startup is a handful of power players guiding the founders. Smart and savvy investors like Eric Hippeau or the celebrated Bob Pittman may give you a kick start, super attorney Victor Boyajian might draw up and help you ink your Series A financing, or Union Square's Fred Wilson might chip in some expansion capital and join your board. In celebration of these key insiders, AlwaysOn is seeking nominations for your favorite New York City Power Players.