2011 Innovations Awards Honorees: Computer Peripherals

From printers to Webcams to monitors to mice, these computer peripherals were honored as part of the 2011 CES Innovations Awards.

By PCWorld Staff, PCWorld

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2011 Innovations Awards: Printers, Input Devices, Monitors, and More

The Consumer Electronics Association has been rewarding forward-thinking technology with its Innovations Design and Engineering Awards for 35 years, honoring hardware and software products that do things differently.

Here's a closer look at some of the 2011 honorees in the category of Computer Peripherals. For a complete list of winners in all 35 categories, visit the official 2011 CES Innovations Awards page.

Be sure to see our roundups of the 2011 Innovations Awards honorees for computer hardware, home entertainment, and digital imaging. Plus, see which products had the highest scores across the board in our CES 2011 Best of Innovations slideshow.

Lexmark Genesis

The Lexmark Genesis is a visually distinctive inkjet multifunction printer due to its vertical, display-like profile, which practically invites you to walk up and examine it. The front panel has a 4.3-inch, capacitive touchscreen LCD and context-sensitive touch controls that light up when needed. But behind the design, you'll find the major technological innovation: a 10-megapixel camera for creating digital images, instead of the traditional CIS (contact image sensor) or CCD (charge-coupled device) scanning technology. In our tests it scanned any kind of image, regardless of complexity, in a matter of several seconds, as opposed to dozens or hundreds of seconds using conventional means. Watch video of its innovative scanner in action. --Melissa Riofrio

ViewSonic VX2739wm

The ViewSonic VX2739wm is a 27-inch, 1080p, widescreen monitor with four USB ports, high-quality built-in speakers, and an energy-saving mode. But those factors by themselves aren't enough to win an Innovations Award. Far more interesting is ViewSonic's claim that this is the first LCD monitor to boast a 1-millisecond response time, which could make motion blur a thing of the past--perfect for gaming, movies, or video editing. --Patrick Miller

Logitech HD Pro Webcam C910

This highly rated Webcam shoots in full HD 1080p and snaps 10-megapixel still photos, and it provides a Carl Zeiss lens with good autofocus, a dual built-in microphone for optimal video chatting, premium automatic light correction, and fun Logitech video effects similar to those found in Apple's Photo Booth. I found that the Logitech Webcam controls made it easy to zoom in and out and then pan in any direction to focus on something specific. The controls are presented in an intuitive desktop pop-up window; you click buttons on the screen to move the camera. During calls with Skype and with Logitech's Vid HD video-calling service, the C910 produced no noticeable pixelation. --Leah Yamshon

Microsoft Arc Touch Mouse

Talk about slick, portable design. You can pack this mouse flat for storage; when ready for use, it curves upward into a comfortable arch. And the touch-sensitive center strip replaces a scrollwheel. -- Melissa J. Perenson

Seagate GoFlex Storage System

Seagate's FreeAgent GoFlex system is available in both portable and desktop variants, and the line encompasses drives, connection modules, and accessories. The portable drives come in assorted capacities and colors. The unique hook to these models is that Seagate has reengineered the devices to separate the drive from the bridge board that translates the drive's native SATA to another interface connection. As a result, Seagate can offer a variety of cable modules for use with a single drive--giving you plenty of connection flexibility. --Melissa J. Perenson

Logitech Solar Keyboard

A solar-powered keyboard might sound counterintuitive since you're most likely to use it indoors, but this peripheral is sensitive enough to pick up a charge from a lamp. The PVC-free case of the Logitech Solar Wireless Keyboard 750 measures merely 0.33 inch thick. Its USB receiver stays plugged into your PC, so you won't have to mess with cords. A solar app provides details about how much battery power remains. --Elsa Wenzel

HP HD-4110 Webcam

The well-designed HP HD-4110 Webcam comes equipped with easy-launch buttons and can shoot 1080p high-definition video at 30 frames per second. Each of the three buttons atop the device launches a different Webcam feature: One records video and uploads it to YouTube, another launches your preferred chatting service, and a third snaps a still photo. Once the autofocus adjusts and kicks in, the face-tracking feature ensures that you remain in focus throughout the whole chat. --Leah Yamshon

Microsoft LifeCam Studio

The first Webcam in the LifeCam line that can shoot video in 1080p, the top-of-the-line Microsoft LifeCam Studio has fluid autofocus, captures vivid colors, and records stunning overall video. It's packaged in an innovative barrel design, and it works best when paired with Windows Live Messenger; that software lets you access the Webcam's most advanced chatting features. --Leah Yamshon

Imation Defender F200 Biometric Flash Drive

Lots of flash drives boast FIPS140-2, Level 3 government-grade encryption, but the Imation Defender F200 Biometric Flash Drive goes even further by integrating a biometric swipe sensor for hardware-based fingerprint identification. That's in addition to the AES 256-bit hardware encryption, and two-factor authentication. Imation says that this ruggedly designed, lightweight drive is tamper-resistant and waterproof. It comes in 1GB, 2GB, 4GB, 8GB, 16GB, and 32GB capacities. --Melissa J. Perenson