4 reasons Japan might be first to adopt e-paper

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From all countries, Japan seems to be the best prepared to start widely using e-paper. As Reuters reports, Japanese companies are already very active in e-paper R&D, while the first colour versions have started to appear. We are talking about thin sheets of fabric that accept electronic signals and can be bent or even folded like traditional paper.

Apart from companies that see new product opportunities and try to create the necessary push, here is what could generate consumer demand for e-paper in Japan and to an extent world-wide:

1. BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India and China) are flexing their industrial muscle. Both business and consumers need ever more paper and as a result A4 paper prices have recently risen by 20% to 30%. Forests are depleted at alarming rates, therefore prices are bound to increase even further.
2. Japan consumers have the right culture for the adoption of new mobile ideas. Things done by the Japanese on mobile phones, the rest of us only bother to do on laptops or large desktop screens. Take for example novels that are both written and read on cellphones. I bet practical epaper would be perfect for those long hours in the Tokyo metro…

Japanese cellphone novels become best sellers!

It is common for novels to inspire films or films to inspire games -and vice versa- but cellphones inspiring novels? It’s already happening in Japan, and in fact last year novel downloads that were written on cellphones and are read on cellphones have outsold traditional print publications! And not only that, the more popular forms of those successfully make it to print form. Five of last year’s print top ten -including the top three- were originally cellphone novels!

The writers are typically young women that can type really quickly with their thumbs on their tiny cellphone keyboards. Most writers and readers belong to a generation that grew up with a cellphone planted in their hand and consider it an extension of their body. In fact, it is not uncommon for young people to feel more at comfort with a cellphone than with a computer, as it can be carried and used everywhere, even at places where no other activity is possible, the metro, waiting for the bus…

Japan plans Super Hi-Vision, why it is an insane project

I was shocked to read in Engadget that the Japanese government is planning a joint project with private companies to develop and eventually get to market a new broadcast standard called Super Hi-Vision. It is a super high definition protocol that makes even 1080p HD and 4K -the standard that Hollywood and cinemas are still struggling to introduce- pale by comparison. It will have a resolution of 7,680 x 4,320 pixels -if you do the maths it is a humongous 33 megapixels- provide support for 22.2 channel sound and will require an uncompressed stream of 24 Gbps. The aim is to introduce the new broadcast standard by 2015.

Canon and Nikon command more than 80% of the Japanese DSLR market

Japan is home territory for Nikon and Canon. For both it is not simply a matter of market share but also of prestige and fame. Therefore, the battle is nothing but fierce. According to dpreview the two brands together command more than 80% of the DSLR market. Nikon is ahead with 43.3% and Canon follows with 39.9%. Overall in digital cameras, Canon commands 21.2% and retains the number one spot for the fourth consecutive year. Numbers are up to the end of November 2007 but December is not expected to change the year’s results. The Japanese DSLR market grew in 2007 significantly, 50% by items sold, 35% by value. Predictions for 2008 are also optimistic as in the rest of the world.

Is consumer spending on electronics going to slow down?

Now that US economic forecasts do not look so rosy, consumer response related to electronic products has become a constant worry. Manufacturers are churning out new models as if there is no tomorrow and if we are to believe the uplifting CES atmosphere all is going smooth. So who is right, the optimists that believe that the current US predictions will have no effect, or the pessimists that see a serious cut in spending?

One first remark is that to determine what’s happening we must consider the fact that most electronics and IT companies are already international operations, the US represents a portion and not all of their sales. Read the dealer/distributor page of any medium or small company and you will be surprised. There is contacts all over the world, often in all continents. This means that the US economic cycle is not necessarily the whole picture. The high exchange rate of the euro against the dollar for the moment shields the EU from high oil prices and is favourable for American imports! Asian markets are doing pretty well.

Softbank in Japan putting a stop to 2G

Japan  is probably the most progressive mobile telephone market. Softbank mobile sees signs that 2G is reaching the end of its life so will stop taking 2G orders from the end of march 2008. 2G support is correctly going to continue but customers will be encouraged to switch to 3G. This is a very healthy sign and it would be great to see similar moves from more mobile operators in all countries. When you think about it, everybody benefits:

• The mobile company can eventually do away with older generation equipment in base stations that is still supporting 2G to free up space and concentrate on more modern services.

DVB-H in Europe, mobile courses in Japan

Europe can now sleep calm, DVB-H has become the official european mobile TV standard. No matter which manufacturer will benefit more or is more ready to get products swiftly to the market, mobile TV has enjoyed limited market penetration since the introduction of 3G. Surely, standards harmonization has never harmed anybody and is applauded, but I personally refuse to get my eyes exhausted trying to watch TV on a small screen. So I was shocked to learn that a course is going to be offered on mobile telephones by the Cyber University of Japan! Now think of that! You can get educated while you fight for a few centimeters of space in the Tokyo metro, or you can even mess up your fingers trying to get your homework done… Feedback using mobile devices is so limited that receiving course info is bound to be the only possible activity, unless accompanied by PC use. I do not know, GPS and limited web surfing on a mobile are fine but mobile TV and mobile courses seem such a waste of time. Some people would offer humanity a greater service if they devoted their PCs to the ”Folding @ home” project…