Design & Innovation

I have been wanting to buy a good digital camera for quite a while now and my recent trip to San Francisco has made me realize that a good digital camera is a must. I have had an eye on Sony T300 which has standard features like 10 Megapixel, 5x zoom, face detection and so on. It also has ISCN technology where the camera selects the optimal setting for best photo results. What I really liked about the camera is that its got a 3.5 inch touch screen. The camera has no buttons at all which I find to be quite cool. I am big fan of the touch screen technology and I like the fact that this technology is being used in more or less all devices. Apple came out with the iphone and iphone has taken mobile phones to a whole new level. We see touch screen technology in mp3 players and cars. Microsoft put this technology in furniture and came out with Microsoft Surface table which is truly amazing.  All this makes me wonder where we are headed and I feel that few years down the line we will have the option of having the touch screen technology in more or less everything.  

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121192244684723963.html?mod=OATE

In the article above, Sony is teaming up with six of U.S.’s top cable providers to design a new TV capable of receiving cable service without the need of a cable box. Users with this type of technology will be able to view channels in basic cable as well as advanced options, such as pay-per-view. This new technology will help cable companies simplify the installation process while reducing costs, while saving the consumers one less item to set up in their home theater system. Sony also will be using a Java based application system that will allow for the manufacturing of “plug and play” interactive devices that can be used just with TV sets.

 In a way, I think Sony is trying to adapt an innovation platform similar to Apple, where they are trying to become a “one stop shop” type of service to their customers. With Apple, an iphone provides phone services, internet capabilites, mp3 player, and a video player. If this new technology does come to market, Sony will be providing a TV that allows for MP3 player capabilities, interactive gaming, cable service, as well as advanced cable services, as well as the internet. It seems like to be a successful company in this day and age, companies need to start thinking about innovative platforming, where one device has the capabilities of doing a minimum of four activies.