13. Ubitizen's Era

A few weeks before, I roughly posted about ubiquitous as a future marketing, so I want to talk about the subject 'Ubiquitous' more.


In relation to ubiquitous, there is a word 'Ubitizen' which is a combination of 'ubiquitous' and 'citizen'. Netizen indicates people who access to the network through PCs and be familiar in suing them, but Ubitizen indicates people who are free from the limit of time and places; moreoever, living in ubiquitous computing era regardless whether or not the person is able to handle a computure. Netizen tend to exchange and share their thoughts, and create new online culture, but Ubitizen exprience new life style ubiquitous network system provides. In some point of view, it can be told that Ubitizen is boader range of concept which also includes netizen. Actually, we enjoy ubiquitous life at the present moment; listening to lectures in the subway and having a online meeting with a laptop computer, access to the internet and collect information with a small machine in a hand. Unconciensly, ubiquitous technology has been a big part of our lives and expected to make our lives more convinient.

Because one cycle of IT is passed now, it is time to prepare for the next steps, 'IT convergence' is considered as one of the steps. IT convergence can be classified into 1. process technology as a management tool and 2. product convergence with other industries. As a mangement tool, ubiquitous technology is usually used in operating manufacture and distribution like a 'Future market' I posted before. However, the processing technology could not be developed enough in Korea due to the weakness of convergnece in PC, IT service, media and entertainment.

As a convergence in product, Samsung electronics and LG electronics have led IT convergence in the electric appliance industry like DVD combo, Prada mobile phone, refrigerator with TV, and so on.



I talked about the personalization as a future marketing with mobile phone service, but it is one of the opportunities from the development of ubiquitous technology. In Prada's flagship store, you can see the part of runway show of the product you chose and the clothes matched with other accessories through a RFID mirror. A car combined with network technology is also expected to have a lot of potential opportunities to fulfill customers need in purchasing a car. The ownership will be changed as a service concept through this change, so it is not early for car manufacutre companies to consider in-depth car service which can fulfill the needs of customers.

Comparing with past history, we can see how much technology has brought us convenient life, Ironically, people seemed to enjoy it at first, but the harsh competition in any kind of field brought back the busy life cycle sooner. Therefore, it seems like there is no way to fulfill the need toward absolute convenience forever. Circumstance changes easily and there are always certain kind of needs to fulfill. /posted by 20500580