Comments on: Japan is the first market to see PCs shrink http://liftlab.com/think/nova/2007/11/05/japan-is-the-first-market-to-see-pcs-shrink/ mind/tech bazar from outer space Sun, 07 Sep 2008 16:34:19 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=wordpress-mu-1.2.1 By: a thousand tomorrows » Blog Archive » Japanese PC market shrinking http://liftlab.com/think/nova/2007/11/05/japan-is-the-first-market-to-see-pcs-shrink/#comment-445357 a thousand tomorrows » Blog Archive » Japanese PC market shrinking Thu, 08 Nov 2007 10:34:06 +0000 http://liftlab.com/think/nova/2007/11/05/japan-is-the-first-market-to-see-pcs-shrink/#comment-445357 [...] Via Pasta & Vinegar [...] […] Via Pasta & Vinegar […]

]]> By: Yves Grassioulet http://liftlab.com/think/nova/2007/11/05/japan-is-the-first-market-to-see-pcs-shrink/#comment-445080 Yves Grassioulet Mon, 05 Nov 2007 10:08:45 +0000 http://liftlab.com/think/nova/2007/11/05/japan-is-the-first-market-to-see-pcs-shrink/#comment-445080 This also relates to the book I'm currently reading from <a href="http://tecfa.unige.ch/" title="Rough Type Blog" rel="nofollow">Nicholas G Carr</a> naming <a href="http://www.nicholasgcarr.com/articles/matter.html" rel="nofollow">Does IT Matter</a>. Here's a short description of the article that has been the starting point of his book:<i>In this article, published in the May 2003 edition of the Harvard Business Review, I examine the evolution of information technology in business and show that it follows a pattern strikingly similar to that of earlier technologies like railroads and electric power. For a brief period, as they are being built into the infrastructure of commerce, these "infrastructural technologies," as I call them, open opportunities for forward-looking companies to gain strong competitive advantages. But as their availability increases and their cost decreases - as they become ubiquitous - they become commodity inputs. From a strategic standpoint, they become invisible; they no longer matter.</i> This also relates to the book I’m currently reading from Nicholas G Carr naming Does IT Matter. Here’s a short description of the article that has been the starting point of his book:In this article, published in the May 2003 edition of the Harvard Business Review, I examine the evolution of information technology in business and show that it follows a pattern strikingly similar to that of earlier technologies like railroads and electric power. For a brief period, as they are being built into the infrastructure of commerce, these “infrastructural technologies,” as I call them, open opportunities for forward-looking companies to gain strong competitive advantages. But as their availability increases and their cost decreases - as they become ubiquitous - they become commodity inputs. From a strategic standpoint, they become invisible; they no longer matter.

]]> By: Jean-Marc Liotier http://liftlab.com/think/nova/2007/11/05/japan-is-the-first-market-to-see-pcs-shrink/#comment-445078 Jean-Marc Liotier Mon, 05 Nov 2007 09:51:55 +0000 http://liftlab.com/think/nova/2007/11/05/japan-is-the-first-market-to-see-pcs-shrink/#comment-445078 Your conclusions converges on the ubiquitous computing concepts pioneered by the Xerox Parc. In the nineties the parallel was already drawn between how electric engines were first big central things to which everything else connected (take a look at all the mechanical belt and shafts transmission gear in old manufactures) whereas they are now ubiquitous commodities. The case of Japan is insular in many ways. The long commutes, the cramped spaces at home, the linguistic isolation and the peculiar story of Imode all add up to produce peculiar developments. The trends are interesting to observe and do point to some developments relevant to the other markets, but as you note they should not be transposed without precautions. Your conclusions converges on the ubiquitous computing concepts pioneered by the Xerox Parc. In the nineties the parallel was already drawn between how electric engines were first big central things to which everything else connected (take a look at all the mechanical belt and shafts transmission gear in old manufactures) whereas they are now ubiquitous commodities.

The case of Japan is insular in many ways. The long commutes, the cramped spaces at home, the linguistic isolation and the peculiar story of Imode all add up to produce peculiar developments. The trends are interesting to observe and do point to some developments relevant to the other markets, but as you note they should not be transposed without precautions.

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