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Generic Magazine
The idea is simple; to have a robustly built two-page magazine spread that uses future technology to simulate the experience of actually reading your chosen rag. Rather than containing lots of individual pages, there are only two interior sides. In a similar way to the latest PCs and TVs, this uses a synergy of plasma screen and touch-screen technology to recreate the magazine virtually. By pressing the appropriate section of the screen, you can turn the virtual pages, so the image would change into the required form.
Naturally, there are countless benefits. The GM negates the need for busy folks to have to trundle into their newsagent in order to pick up the latest editions of their selected journals. And such a device is infinitely more portable and user-friendly than its nearest market equivalent, the laptop.
The way the GM would work is by allowing users to purchase the required title via a wireless Internet connection. They could choose from a comprehensive list, and then have access to that title immediately, without any hassle, the purchase charge being taken automatically out of their bank account. Once purchased, that magazine or newspaper would stay within the considerable memory of the GM data banks, free to be accessed again in the future, unless deleted.
The main selling point is the fact that due its technology, it can support reader interaction. So rather than a paper based model showing us still-images of a movie or important event, by just pressing the relevant bit of the screen, the GM can display streaming media. Rather than be told through text how good a movie or game is, watch a video clip of it. Rather than just tell us how good the latest pop singles are, you can listen to them real time. To a limited extent, you could theoretically also participate in small interactive games on the screen.
I must emphasise that this is not intended to be one of those recent multi-function pieces of gadgetry that allows you to access internet, send emails, phone people, manage your finances, as well as boil your eggs and trim your hair for you. This is strictly a single-use product aimed at a specific niche, and as such would be affordable to most interested consumers, not just the elite few who won the lottery last Thursday.
The GM would be made of a flexible and extremely robust material, so it could last for quite a while, unlike the flimsiness of paper-based publications. It would also be waterproof, so you could read it in the rain. Good fortune for the beggars sleeping on park benches covered in discarded GMs.
Anyway, that’s the concept, but I would greatly appreciate it if you could take a few minutes to fill out the following questions. Many thanks everyone!!
1. Do you know of any existing technology that can be compared to the GM?
2. How frequently do you read magazines/newspapers?
3. How frequently do you read magazines/newspapers on the move?
4. Would you consider buying the GM or a very similar product?
5. Do you think there is market potential for such a device?
6. Do you have any major objections to the concept?
7. Do you have any suggestions for improvement?
Thanks again for your help!!
>
> 1. Do you know of any existing technology that can be compared to the
> GM?
Tablet PC I suppose; I use it for browsing the news and playing table tennis when the lectures get dull.
>
> 2. How frequently do you read magazines/newspapers?
Once a month for magazines, 3-5 times a week for papers.
>
> 3. How frequently do you read magazines/newspapers on the move?
> 3-5 times, I pick up the paper from the bus and read it there.
> 4. Would you consider buying the GM or a very similar product?
Yes, very much so.
>
> 5. Do you think there is market potential for such a device?
Yes, a lot.
>
> 6. Do you have any major objections to the concept?
> OLED technology needs to be more stable; apparently they have a shorter life than normal LED screens, but it should get better.
> 7. Do you have any suggestions for improvement?
> Near the back of some magazines there are sometimes ads for callgirls; using this technology, a taster video should be played with two lesbians getting it on.
>
> Thanks again for your help!!
Yeah, now where have I heard that before?
> Jeez, I hope I don't have to setup a questionnaire and annoy people
> later on in my uni course. The number of questionnaires I get asked
> to fill in, by the net or paper, gets annoying after you've done a
> few. And it's not like they're going to return the favour, having
> graduated and left you to feed off the young yourself.
>
> Gah
Not all courses do. But if you wanna really impress your tutors then getting a public opinion always helps.
I don't tend to fill in questionnaires for random businesses, but here on the forums we're all one big happy family, helping each other. :)
Plus, I personally thank you for filling in my questionnaire. There, better?
GM?
- No, unless those electronic books count, but nothing magazine/newspaper-like
2. How frequently do you read magazines/newspapers?
Very - Guardia/Telegraph/Independant newspapers, I used to read a lot of games magazines, before I realised the internet was far cheaper!
3. How frequently do you read magazines/newspapers on the move?
Usually I'm 'on the move' (i.e train/car) when I buy magazines. Newspapers are new in the house most days.
4. Would you consider buying the GM or a very similar product?
Only if the magazines significantly got larger. Newspapers, then yes, obviously depending on cost.
5. Do you think there is market potential for such a device?
Certainly - I can imagine many people in the city with one -size therefore is an issue, obviously.
6. Do you have any major objections to the concept?
Theft of the GM would be lame. And those poor tramps with no pillows once paper is stopped. But the trees'd be happier!
7. Do you have any suggestions for improvement?
Make magazines cheaper - cost & size obviously vital considerations, size in particular.