Recently in Convergence Category
If you haven't heard yet (I have, because I'm in IST 431), convergence is the big thing right now. Even if you've never used the terminology, you're probably well aware of the concept. We're digitally consolidating. The movement is to put as much as possible into single devices, and we want to have everything and anything connected to or accessible through those devices. The idea has great potential, of course, and some companies are pulling it off well (the iPhone, though overpriced and over-hyped, in my opinion, is one example that rose to the occasion). But, quite often, the technology we have available just isn't good enough to make it all come together.
This afternoon, I came across an article titled "Couple-It Handset Takes a More Practical View on Convergence".
It was nice to see that Alloy
(the company who designed the product) is keeping a level head and
realizing that we're still limited in what we can do. The Couple-It
Handset offers you the portability and convenience of a cellular
phone-esque gadget, but because devices like these are difficult to do
any elaborate or detailed work, it comes with a laptop that syncs up to
the "phone". So, rather than trying to make the "phone" do everything,
Alloy is utilizing the device's obvious advantages, but being realistic
with what it can actually do. I would much rather have companies designing
products like this than putting out absurdly overpriced, over-the-top
devices that don't have the technology to do what was envisioned.
This afternoon, I came across an article titled "Couple-It Handset Takes a More Practical View on Convergence".
It was nice to see that Alloy
(the company who designed the product) is keeping a level head and
realizing that we're still limited in what we can do. The Couple-It
Handset offers you the portability and convenience of a cellular
phone-esque gadget, but because devices like these are difficult to do
any elaborate or detailed work, it comes with a laptop that syncs up to
the "phone". So, rather than trying to make the "phone" do everything,
Alloy is utilizing the device's obvious advantages, but being realistic
with what it can actually do. I would much rather have companies designing
products like this than putting out absurdly overpriced, over-the-top
devices that don't have the technology to do what was envisioned.