INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, CONSUMER PRODUCTS AND WAYS OF LIFE

1. INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, CONSUMER PRODUCTS AND WAYS OF LIFE Lawrence Green and Ian Miles, PREST

2. Consumption, Demand and Consumer Products are often neglected in Innovation Studies and Social Analysis more generally but... • Objective of economic activity (?) • Firms and public services need to understand end-user requirements • Technological trajectories influenced by demand (and expectations of demand), and by consequent regulations, etc. • Changes in demand  changes in economic structure • Changed ways of life enormously important

3. Technology and Households “Consumers” are not just passive: • Consumer Markets: choice among products of any particular type, between different types of product,is typical (not universal…) • Consumer Use of products: often “reinvents” product and its main uses, configuration with other products, image, etc • Consumption an active process, with (a) informal production, (b) social networks and discourse meaning (c) consumption far more than demand • Feedback to producers, retailers, complementary services, new entrants

4. Diffusion - communications Data from EURESCOM surveys: see www.eurescom.de

5. selection processes selection processes Core Industrial employment/Technology Applications organisation Displacement of manual labour Extension of physical reach of production and of markets, Econ. of Scale Back-office informatisation Extension of organisational coordination • Primary Sectors • Manufacturing • Physical Services • Process Industries • Information Services • Human Services Motor Power petroleum electricity Information Distribution electronics

6. selection processes selection processes Core Industrial employment/Technology Applications organisation “Convergence” and interpenetration New relations between firms and sectors Virtual organisations? Fragmentation, Flattening, Focusing, Economies of scope • Primary Sectors • Manufacturing • Physical Services • Process Industries • Information Services • Human Services Powerful Information Processing microelectronics, etc.

7. Core Consumer Product Technology Applications Consumption Commercially Successful Products Appropriation into (Changed) Ways of Life Consumer Reinvention Ranges of Products Released Consumer Perception of Costs & Benefits selection processes selection processes Perceived Trajectories of Core Technologies Applications in Industry Perceived Consumer Market Opportunities

8. Private vs Public Transport Self-service vs Domestic Service “Passive” home entertainment vs Traditional leisure Remote social contacts Automobile White Goods Brown Goods Telephony Motor Power Petroleum electricity selection processes selection processes Information Distribution electronics Core Consumer Product Technology Applications Consumption Mid C20th TECH

9. *New relations between public and private services? *New divisions of labour in home? *Home-based work and education? *New “active” leisure? *New use of space? *Virtual communities? Automobile White Goods New Products Brown Goods Telephony IT ICE, guidance, performance, mobile comms, controls... Powerful information processing microelectronics etc. security, health (microwave) selection processes selection processes computers, videogames, multimedia VCRs, camcorders, synthesisers, remote controls, CDs, HDTV answering machines, mobile comms teleservices... Core Consumer Product Technology Applications Consumption

10. Applying IT to Consumer Products • Improving Functions • Controls, Displays, Memories, Safety features, New interfaces, intercommunication, smaller, user-friendly, “green” features • Adding New Functions • Portable, mobile, programmable • New Products • New white/brown goods • New services (e.g. e-commerce) • New Systems • Home systems • Who is doing this? • Which industrial sectors? (IT, consumer electronics, telecomms, household goods, utilities…) • What alliances? • Which are the drivers? (eldercare, disability, security, environment, hobbyists)..

11. Sony now has a whole family of AIBOEntertainment Robots ...including the latest ERS-220. The only truly autonomous robot commercially available, AIBO learns and adapts according to the environment around it, and the way you interact with it. ... 64 Bit RISC Processor, 100,000 pixel CMOS image sensor, stereo microphones and miniature speakers… the latest in home entertainment…. futuristic looking... Additional lights & LEDs, including a retractable headlight which illuminates when it enters 'Boost Mode’… And the fun doesn't stop there! Sony has just launched a new version of Master Studio (Version 1.1) - the programme which allows you to create your own actions and behaviours for your AIBO. http://www.eu.aibo.com

12. http://www.eu.aibo.com/en/sneak_preview/index.html And More... • All AIBO Entertainment Robots have the capability to communicate with the world around them through the senses of sight, sound and touch. The truly unique artificial intelligence allows each AIBO to decide how it is going to behave based on its instincts, its emotions and these sensory interactions. These interactions with the people they meet, other AIBOs and the world around them will develop your AIBO's unique personality as it learns from every experience. • Then, with the simple change of a Memory Stick and perhaps the addition of a Wireless LAN Card*, a whole new application is available. For example you can play games with AIBO, control your AIBO remotely getting the real-time image from AIBO's onboard camera or get AIBO to read you e-mails. • Whatever your style, there is now an AIBO that will suit you. Whether you want a cute companion like LATTE or MACARON, an expressive robotic pet like the ERS-210 or a futuristic robot like the new ERS-220, one of the AIBO range is sure to appeal to you. ...

13. TERRESTRIAL BROADCAST VCR Radio Tuner CD Cassette Speakers Cameras Displays ENTERTAINMENT AND COMMUNICATION HOME COMPUTING APPLIANCE CONTROL Formal Work, Games Education, Household Management white goods, cleaners ENVIRONMENT CONTROL SECURITY SATELLITE Alarms, medical sensors heat, light, ventilation PROGRAM STORE METERING BROADBAND Voice, broadcast, displays keyboards - inputs INSURANCE, CONSTRUCTION MAINS electricity, gas, water Interactive Home Systems

14. a detailed view from http://future.newsday.com/3/fsmint.htm

15. What is Home Automation?from http://www.smart-house.com/About/homeauto.htm • Rest easy with bedside controls. • Keep an eye on the kids, even if you're not in the same room. • Save time and energy with a built-in vacuum system. • Control your heating and cooling for maximum efficiency and lower costs • Fax, email, phone from any room. (Or every room.) • A timer switch a day keeps the prowlers away. • First there was surround-sound. Now there's follow - you - anywhere - in - the - house sound. • Now is the time to make your life more efficient, more convenient and ultimately more enjoyable. Build a smart house today and let your home "work" for you!

16. What is Home Automation?from http://www.smart-house.com/About/homeauto.htm • Rest easy with bedside controls. • Keep an eye on the kids, even if you're not in the same room. • Save ti1me and energy with a built-in vacuum system. • Control your heating and cooling for maximum efficiency and lower costs • Fax, email, phone from any room. (Or every room.) • A timer switch a day keeps the prowlers away. • First there was surround-sound. Now there's follow - you - anywhere - in - the - house sound. • Now is the time to make your life more efficient, more convenient and ultimately more enjoyable. Build a smart house today and let your home "work" for you! With select placement of video cameras throughout your house, you can monitor your baby's room as well as any entrance to your home via any television Sleep the night away peacefully knowing that your family is safe and that you have a home that works for you. Now, with the touch of a button at your bedside, you can turn on all the lights in your house at the first sign of a disturbance.

17. What is Home Automation?rom http://www.smart-house.com/About/homeauto.htm Make a clean sweep of house work with a centralized vacuum system. You simply insert a lightweight hose into a conveniently located inlet valve and you're ready to go. Valves can be placed in each room and on each floor, anywhere you choose.. • Rest easy with bedside controls. • Keep an eye on the kids, even if you're not in the same room. • Save time and energy with a built-in vacuum system. • Control your heating and cooling for maximum efficiency and lower costs • Fax, email, phone from any room. (Or every room.) • A timer switch a day keeps the prowlers away. • First there was surround-sound. Now there's follow - you - anywhere - in - the - house sound. • Now is the time to make your life more efficient, more convenient and ultimately more enjoyable. Build a smart house today and let your home "work" for you! With electronic controls, you can enjoy maximum comfort in your home, while still maintaining efficiency. You can even set your heating and cooling system to "away" and "at home" tempatures.

18. What is Home Automation?rom http://www.smart-house.com/About/homeauto.htm Whether you have a small home office, or your entire home is your office, SMART HOUSE can give you access to the world. We can even create an in-home local area network (LAN), connecting you to other computers throughout the house. Just plug in your fax, modem and telephone, and you're ready to start communicating around the world or around the corner. • Rest easy with bedside controls. • Keep an eye on the kids, even if you're not in the same room. • Save time and energy with a built-in vacuum system. • Control your heating and cooling for maximum efficiency and lower costs • Fax, email, phone from any room. (Or every room.) • A timer switch a day keeps the prowlers away. • First there was surround-sound. Now there's follow - you - anywhere - in - the - house sound. • Now is the time to make your life more efficient, more convenient and ultimately more enjoyable. Build a smart house today and let your home "work" for you! Programmable lighting controls allow you to program your system for an "away" mode that can protect your home when you're away on vacation. Lights will go on and off in keeping with your daily routine, confusing potential prowlers as to whether you're at home or away.

19. What is Home Automation?rom http://www.smart-house.com/About/homeauto.htm Imagine being able to listen to your favorite music or watch a great video anywhere in your home. Start out in the media room with surround sound. Then move to the kitchen. Then the master bedroom. Anywhere you go in your home, you can enjoy music and video, whether you have cable or direct TV. • Rest easy with bedside controls. • Keep an eye on the kids, even if you're not in the same room. • Save time and energy with a built-in vacuum system. • Control your heating and cooling for maximum efficiency and lower costs • Fax, email, phone from any room. (Or every room.) • A timer switch a day keeps the prowlers away. • First there was surround-sound. Now there's follow - you - anywhere - in - the - house sound. • Now is the time to make your life more efficient, more convenient and ultimately more enjoyable. Build a smart house today and let your home "work" for you!

20. Contexts of Household Activity Types of Household Activity Formal (paid) work Informal (domestic) work Informal (out-of-home) work Personal Care At-home leisure Out-of-home leisure Technological Change “Heartland” and Applications Organisational Change in Public Services and Employing Bodies Social and Political Change Environmental Change

21. The Digital Divide.. • From SIBIS (www.sibis-eu.org; see also biser-eu.org; seniorwatch.de,; beep-eu.org): • “Risk Groups” • Gender - women • Age - 50+ • Education - low education (formal education finished before 15v years old • - Income - low income (lowest quartile)

22. Total population Risk group SIBIS diffusion analysis % of adopters Early adoption take-of maturity

23. Next week • Policy Issues • Your job - take a IT-related policy area, preferably for your own country or one you know well: • How has this evolved over time? Have the goals changed? • What underlies the policy? Are information society goals distinctive?