[LINK] Consumer Electronics Show - wireless DVD player that c onnects to Internet direct

[r.polanskis at uws.edu.au]

On Tue, 13 Jan 2004, Chirgwin, Richard wrote:

> >heh heh< You haven't bought into the LG vision then? Where surfing the
> Internet means standing in the kitchen looking at the refrigerator?

There is one thing that hasn't been mentioned here (I think).
All these embedded/convergence devices are designed to do only
a few special things:

Move units

"Add Value" to technologies that are now commodity, where innovation
and R&D can no longer achieve a gain on performance or reliability or
price point.

Fulfil a desire in the individual to pursue something other than ordinary
whitegoods or domestic consumer electronics

By taking a consumer commodity electronic/whitegood product and
sticking something digital on it, the manufacturers are ensuring the
longevity of their product lines, patents and design techniques
with very little extra effort applied to improve the product in more
"useful" ways.   Most consumer products these days are almost
identical in function and form, with very little differentiation
between them.  Using Internet technologies or convergent
technologies is just a marketing "schtick" to move units.

What worries me is that perhaps without some investment in the
maintainance or standardisation of the protocols or technologies involved,
these addons will in fact become useless or potentially dangerous -

eg a device has an embedded web browser that uses SSL and perhaps has
several embedded online links to web pages serving information/upgrades on the
Internet.    Someone then has to ensure that for the lifetime of the
product that the SSL implementation doesn't change (in spite of flaws)
such the device can no longer authenticate, or that the web server and it's
links are all valid and available and properly displayable by the device.

Given the 100 day rule for web sites these day, adding such applications
to consumer goods is a risky venture, or at least needs to show
some dedication to the product and the customer.   I don't see that
happening (I am a cynic), since the prime purpose these days is
to "move units", so in this user pays world, you may well need to subscribe
to updates just to make sure your fridge stays online.

Finally, there is a favourite quote of mine that applies mainly to
bloated software applications but now seems readily to apply to whitegoods:

"All applications evolve to the point where they can send email".

(why should your TV, fridge or washing machine be any different?)


rachel

ps;
I received a new washing machine for Christmas; one with a very
complex series of menu driven options and a reassuring smiley face that
blinks at you while setting up, plus a cheerful musical tone that tells
you when the machine requires attention.  I love it.   The only thing
significantly different to my old "dumb" machine however is the omission
of the bucket I used to fill the old machine when I wanted to do a "hot wash".


> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: James Pearce [mailto:james.pearce at zdnet.com.au]
> > Sent: Tuesday, January 13, 2004 8:15 AM
> > To: Link at anu.edu.au
> > Subject: Re: [LINK] Consumer Electronics Show - wireless DVD
> > player that c onnects to Internet direct
> >
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Frank O'Connor" <foconno1 at bigpond.net.au>
> > To: "Chirgwin, Richard" <Richard.Chirgwin at informa.com.au>
> > Cc: <Link at anu.edu.au>
> > Sent: Monday, January 12, 2004 5:16 PM
> > Subject: RE: [LINK] Consumer Electronics Show - wireless DVD
> > player that c
> > onnects to Internet direct
> >
> >
> > <snip>
> > > 5. PC home convergence will happen ... but probably not the way they
> > > expect. I reckon the PC will for all intents and purpose prove
> > > superfluous in the average home within five years and be supplanted
> > > by the digital TV. What that's gonna mean to Microsoft, Apple and Co
> > > is a matter of debate. Hey, the average Joe only has a PC at home
> > > because he has to ... but it's a big source of expensive irritation
> > > that requires much maintenance, a heap of upgrading and lots of TLC
> > > to run properly ... anything that makes it unnecessary in
> > favour of a
> > > hard wired push button consumer box will be something he greets with
> > > delight.
> >
> > I disagree with this. There are too many things a PC can do
> > that you can't
> > do with a "hard wired push button consumer box". Any sort of word
> > processing, spreadsheet, database and so on, for example.
> > Also, surfing the
> > Internet requires more than just a mouse. Most people
> > interact in some way,
> > which requires a keyboard. A keyboard will need a processor
> > to run. Keyboard
> > + processor + GUI = computer. I think the personal computer
> > will be around
> > for a long time yet.
> >
> > James
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Link mailing list
> > Link at mailman.anu.edu.au
> > http://mailman.anu.edu.au/mailman/listinfo/link
> >
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-- 
Rachel Polanskis		Systems Admin, University of Western Sydney
V1-37, Kingswood Campus		(+61 2) 47 360 291 <r.polanskis at uws.edu.au>
        "They who would give up an essential liberty for temporary security,
        deserve neither liberty or security" - Benjamin Franklin, 1759