DEMO 07 Pushes People Power in Tech - Startups, established firms share stage at Demo.

The annual DEMO conferences are always a useful instrument by which to gauge the health and stature of technology innovation; this year was no different, with 16 companies presenting in the first morning session and a recurring theme that might be dubbed "Power to the People!" said Chris Shipley, executive producer of DEMO.

"We are breaking away from putting technology at the center, and we are putting people at the center who have the authority to influence technology," Shipley said.

Of course, people have always been part of the fun at DEMO, where IT industry haves and have nots share a stage to sing for their supper in front of an audience of peers, …