Technological Innovation: Small Screen Internet
This little beauty is a Sony UX. it’s basically a full computer a little larger than an iMate. Around the size and weight of your typical paperback novel.
http://b2b.sony.com/Solutions/subcategory/notebooks/ux-series they are around USD$1500
When is technology an Innovation?
Readers of my other posts, and Technorati & Fast Company and other online mentions would notice I don’t like Geek for Geek’s sake. Think Geek is not ideal. boys with toys…!
Sony have Innovation Here, or close
This machine (if well designed, I have to check one out soon) is an innovation if it enables a strategic use: Full Word & Excel use and carrying, presenting and editing PowerPoint, sending and receiving emails (WiFi/AT&T/NextG/T-mobile), browsing Internet. With the option of plugging in a larger keyboard and mouse. Battery life is only 3 hours, and is would be my main risk factor against delivering this benefit.
Practically this device would be useful for me as it would reduce the 4kg or more of electronics I carry interstate, and the 8kg or more I carry overseas. And help reduce my chronic back pain caused by years of lugging laptops, books, manuals & electronics weighing up to 20kg.
Why is this technology especially Innovative?
UX and other new Windows small form PCS would enable new more powerful desktop applications on PCs that can be used in the warehouse or remote sitet. I wonder how much the battery extender weighs?
How does 2thinknow Innovation Research rate this device?
Our unique research can rank innovation potential. Here’s a summary of how we’d rank this device:
Does this device enable inspiration? Yes. Easy-on, quick launch PC anywhere, fits in your pocket, easy to write notes in quickly. May reduce number of electronic devices.
Does this enable easier Implementation of inspiration? Yes. Quick device like phone, but with full PC capability, easier than opening up laptop as small like phone, can be used standing in queues, or at airport, anywhere. Wi-fi connected so enables global conversations.
Does this give access to new strategic benefits? yes. it enables users to type in situations previously impossible. it upgrades capability of a PC.
Mitigating factors not for everyone. Battery life concerns (what about solar wearable charger jacket? Sony you’ve got the bucks to do it. Seriously, people are doing solar charger clothing in running jacket style.) May suit creatives or email-ers, but nobody who needs a big screen (web designers or Slide presenter or anyone over 40), suits those who carry a PC a lot but don’t edit on it, or use it mostly for email. VOIP and Skype users may find this useful, also if internet sites begin to adapt to small screen browsers, however a mushy middle device.
Conclusion: Small market for people who use Word & email a lot. Forces people to change habits to use, so really only a small market for early-adopters. Laptops not threatened. Like Tablet PCs (Which is something I own)
Small innovation for Small Technology segment of early-adopter power user focused on email/text/carrying files not big screen apps.
I may later buy one to use with pocket Skype, SkypeIn and VOIP redirection, so as to receive inbound / place outbound calls on WiFi and replace my mobile phone. (I hate cell / mobile phones…)
If I can strategically replace mobile phone in all situations and laptop in some situations may be worth purchase price for me personally.
Footnote
There was also a post in Gregg’s NextBlast Blog. It’s quoted below
Who would read my content on a mobile phone?
Good question. Let’s look at some statistics.
The number of people using their mobile phone is to browse online content increasing.
According to an eMarketer report on the Ipos Insight study titled “The Face of the Web”, the number of mobile phone users that have browsed the internet with their mobile phone is increasing with users in North America increasing from 28% to 60%.
Brian Cruikshank of Ipos stated “Accessing the Internet on a wireless handheld device is no longer a novelty for consumers in the major global economies. It’s becoming a common, everyday occurence for many people”. In a separate quote, “In the long term, many of today’s PC-centric online activities could be complemented through the mobile phone or migrate to the mobile altogether…”
There are a number of reasons that can be debated on why this is increasing including the increase in the number of multimedia phones, the decrease in price of internet service charges by the mobile operators and increases in network access speed, to name a few.
Whilst I don’t think Internet use on Mobile Phones is an innovation…
There is a broader underlying trend. Clarification and solidification of the roles of technology. This means more consolidation of functionality in the long run, because what users wantin terms of the innovation outcomes technology delivers to them personally, and their businesses is becoming clairified.
Web 2.0 - communities & interaction are the new hot space. Small screen growth will be driven by web community growth, but constrained by the amount of publishers who actually produce content scalable to the small screen.
If you’d like me to give a speech/workshop on these trends at your organization, or help you plan a strategic approach, then let me know.
Blitzkrieg!
Christopher
Speaker. Author. Editor-In-Chief. Executive Director of Innovation, 2thinknow.
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