Few Thought in Photographic Gear

I am witnessing this year's Photokina fair as one of the busiest in record. Each day there is no shortage of new product launched, range from consumer to professional and enterprise level. As a shutterbug hobbyist, this is the next best place outside Heaven.

Reality strikes when you start looking at the bottom line. The so-called Prosumer-level best-of-the range camera varies between two and half  to five and half grant US, depending on the brand. With that amount, it is enough to pay up your full tuition of uni or buying yourself a second-hand car.

Don't get me wrong. These are great cameras, with huge mega-pixel, high ISO setting, wide dynamic range, best performed with high-end optical and fast speed lens. IMO the pricing is, perhaps too aggressive,  not unreasonable.

I often ask this question. Does camera gear really justify their existence and worth. They are essentially single-task technology. The latest iPhone, which can perform lot more task, cost just over $700 upfront. 

Ming Thein has the answer in his popular blog, 

"One of the reasons why the photographic industry is still growing despite passing saturation point some time ago is because of the photographers themselves: they don’t know when to stop."

The saturation point that Ming refers to is the optimal quality of print/size, in terms of mega-pixel, relative to human eyes. When it comes to choosing the right gears, "Photographers" are blind-folded by the marketing of the industry. Ming refers, I believe, particularly to the young (photography age) guns. I don't think that he refers to those who has experience in film photography, where you learn to be more discipline and critical in making photographic decision.

Eastman Kodak 2012 vs Apple 1997

-> 120 years old elephant vs. 20 years old safari baby-mammal (Puma, Jaquar, Panther, Leopard, Tiger, Lion ...)

-> photography experience vs. user (human/computer) experience

-> A.Perez? vs. S.Jobs

-> staff payroll vs. share option

-> share price $0.55 (January 18) vs. $3.42 (July 4)

Your contribution is welcome.

Two IT Genius

Steve Jobs simply does thing the way that he knows best, even for his retirement.

He uses minimal word in a letter to communicate his message, leaving his (next to largest) listed company on the same day. Unlike other (American) corporate handover, Mr Jobs has passed the torch at its prime, and executes a smooth transition. But then I realize, isn't this same philosophy that has already been reflected in all his product design: the hardware/software in cool appearance working seamlessly as one.

I love using Apple product, so I may be biased. There is no doubt about the genius of Mr Job and, through his product, his impact to many of us in different part of the world.

This is so true, but only to those of us live in a digital city. As I understand, there is still more than half of the world population whose need will not be filled by iPhone or iPad.

Coincidentally another IT genius is making an impact of different kind, push for the available of cost-effective medication; pollution-free water and nutrient food for children in under-developed countries. That's right, this is Mr Gates (aka the pirates) and his foundation.

The old Bill has never impressed me. But what he and his foundation is trying to achieve is simply awesome.

So two IT genius are changing the world.

From Natural Disaster to Japanese Cultural

While the media releases footages revealing the magnitude of destruction and casualty report, it is so surreal to watch how it happens.

If there is any positive message from all these (I need one), it would be the spirit of Japanese culture.

To me Japanese have already demonstrated their communitarian over last few days. While those who have lost love-one and possession, they show little grudge. They wipe in tears, but still hold up with dignity. Even when panic is already spreading, social order very much continues.

They have touched me.

Growing up from a historical background where Japanese imperial army has invaded, and with Manga playing a role in my adolescence, the nation to me symbolises reinvention.

The new Japan still keeps its cooperative root, although with blend religion. The nation is resilent to cope with adversity as post-war has revealed.

In some way, their culture transcends hardship and individual sacrifice. Such moral has hold up against time, from Harakiri to the era of mass culture (see example).

If one has to pick a country that could come out from major disaster, Japan should be among the discussion.

Will continue to pray for this nation.

EOY in Reflection

Don't you feel that each year seems go faster, and it's now this time of the year again.

So am I really spending my time Getting Things Done, or am I just using quality time on other things and then cramping in the rest.

Chances are, those of us who attach to digital lifestyle is more tied-up and have no time to think and GTD. "iPhone app users spend around 5mins per session. iPad sessions are over 20mins per session" (Gabby Shaw, ABC Innovation). Btw, if you owe one, the following is a great read ('Why I return my iPad').

I do not owe any Tablet, but have recently found an equally time-consuming hobby through online auction. Part of my execuse is the rare opportunity arises in the second-hand market, stirred-up by some European collectors ...

Things have quickly fallen back to earth over past months, among some domestic transition. I could now look forward to what's ahead.

Video Killed The Foto World?

I admit that i am a bit of slow burner. It has caught my attention that, a growing realisation where video is becoming the preferred image medium (link), for Net-gen especially. It comes no surprised that traditional photographer finds it a bit overwhelmed.

I like how Kirk Tuck unpacks the workflow of photography, from a 'manifested' perspective. One would argue how much more efficient it could become if DC is invented without the little screen.

"You may find that clients treat you more like an artist and less like a technician. You’ll find that you will have created a differentiating niche ... sporting a digital Rebel."

But here it is. Photography is now shaped by the pace of digital camera technology. Photo-artist is keen in exploring a new genre of videos, differentiating from cinematic and television.

I only hope it won't be breaking pocket.

All "Dogs" eying Soccer World Cup

I am not real soccer fan. But I embrace the competitive spirit of team sport, so I stay up for the big event.

This World Cup has just completed quarter-final phase, plently of "big-dogs" (like France, Italy, Brazil) already get overthrown. Most analysis that I get have rated their poor performance directly result of team unity (coaching?) and poor umpiring. One loss after another has throttled their fans; advertisers who have spent mega-buck (btw, have you noticed most players in this Nike commercial already been knocked out); and last but not the least, FIFA.

Germany is the "hot-dog" of this World Cup. But had they not performed beyond expectation, the quarter-final would instead feature Argentina vs England, a dream match-up. How could FIFA lets this slip away.

Crediting the local broadcasting networks, they create a new tribe of "sleepy-dogs" who battle to work every morning. With all matches are broadcasted live all night-long, from local restaurant; pub; public big-screen; betting branch; even the mobile-device of the person standing next to you. Commuters won't get miss out either, subway station and ferry pier have the game highlights playing.

Is there anywhere we could get a break from these demoralizing video-clips.

I Luv Anime

I grow up in local-made comics and foreign cartoon. While situated in a proximity to Japan, Hongkong has the benefit of viewing many of their most popular Anime and getting first-hand media coverage.

In the early 70s, the Anime being imported are all main-stream series, featuring variety of "hero" type, from humanized role-model to half-human/robots. Anime at the time are iconized as children-friendly. Air-time are concentrated around the children-friendy schedule. No matured content, let alone any "hentai” (cartoon in pornography), can be found at the time. The only way to access alternative genre is through imported Manga or translated version if lucky.

The local comics all features the non-robotic type of "heros". These characters are teenagers with little education but great talent in martial-art. They are mostly one-dimentional stereotype, with similiar age and background to the audience, who prefers these comic than any written-form novel.

While I left Hongkong in the 80s, I missed the Anime. I could still access to Hongkong comics overseas, but I missed the variety of genre in Anime and the creativity of storyline.

On-flight Entertainer

On my way from Sydney to Hongkong, I'm sitting two rows behind a young couple with their 1+ year old. Not sure why the infant is not happy, she is crying right from the start.

I feel sympathic to the couple. When you are sitting in the cabin and your infant is crying, your option is limited. You wish that she could be able to entertain on her own, like reading book or playing on-flight video-game. But instead you are her entertainer for the next eight plus hours.

While I'm trying to block-out noise and take some rest, the couple's taking turn to cheer her up.

While I'm watching on-flight movie, they're playing DVDs with laptop to entertain her.

And when cabin crew conducts the logistics and ready for landing (no more laptop), she's crying again for the next "entertainer".

From Natural Disaster to Digital Divide (Part 2)

See link to first part of this post.

The impact of Haiti's 1.12 earthquake is devastated and compounded by the country's poverty. It just doesn't have the resource to withstand disaster of such magnitude. More problem follows, with the lack of systematic infrastructure to deliver foreign aid to those who desperately needs help.

Out of all the bad news, a survivor is able to hold-on long enough, with the help of his own gadget belonging (link). His story highlights a few interesting points, one being technology (credit to survivor as well) does indeed empowering the chance of survival. Given that poor country's inability to adopt technology for safty and disaster-relieve from top-down, perhaps this will show them some light.

Social Media up against Mass Media

The proposed Express Railway Link project is supposed to benefit most Hongkong people and our children. The Legco's Finance Committee meeting draws thousand of protesters, mostly the pro-80s who, already knowing they're in for a losing battle, have voiced out their displeased.

There is no David vs Goliath ending. Government simply could not lose. They control the disclosure of sensitive information. They have the number in voting. They have the majority backing from consensus. They even dominates air-time of mass media and publicity in high-density area. The G's pushing for a convincing victory.

Government did win, but hearts are on the other side.

The other side is mostly defending their home-turf or seeking fair-play. They don't have financial or political interest. But the strong support they receive from many NGOs cannot be denied (even students show-up in school uniform). Their demonstration is well planned. They have projectors setup in the open and provide simultaneous critic during the lengthy Q&A session. I didn't get a copy of their distribution, but I hear it contains quality counter-argument and very nice printing.

We witness the counter-force of Internet and social media pulling passionate activists together, up against the tactics of mass media publicity.

Generation Gap in Usability

I got to tip my hat off to dad. He's approaching 80, but his effort in learning his way to online banking amazes me. Occasionally he needs help but it couldn't stop him.

This week he's asked for help to his newly online account provided by a mainland bank. The website (link) looks busy and "ugly". My immediate thought is how little mainlander understands usability. A supposingly quick setup of user setting and login detail takes more than fifteen minutes. I could only feel relieved afterward.

Dad then goes to work, after memorizing the login steps. He wants to walk through it all on his own. He doesn't seem to get much stressed by the clumsy design.

As gen-x, I have the baggage of perception that web design should be neat and user-friendly. But for the older user, usability has a simple and straight-foward meaning.

Time for Next Interface

My eight years old comes home one day and tells me that she is learning typewriting in school. Learning is conducted in an online-game setting, so it's supposed to be fun as well. I could tell from her facial expression. It reminds me of when I first learn typewriting. I was in secondary, but my school does not have computer. I have to attend class in a community centre. If learning to use keyboard in front of the green monitor isn't tedious enough, the class is managed by a computer system (aka LMS nowadays) instead of a person. I think I quit after a week.

Whoever invents keyboard with computer is an engineering genius, but an interface-design idiot in my opinion (no offense). Keyboard takes two hands to operate, and it is good in very few task, like documenting, but poor in anything else, like record instruction or brainstorming. It does not cope well with raw data, that is data with no order and meaning. The later arrival of mouse pointer interface is an instant success simply because it takes one less hand to operate (frees up the other). Still, it could only be used in compliment, not replacement, to keyboard.

I'm all for computer-keyboard replacement. It shows aged when handling vast data size and looking for meaning, or meta data. It also prejudices against people with vision-impaired and/or illiterate. So for those live in poverty, it is digital-divide in one-two punches.

My iPhone Journal

On my birthday last year I've received an iPhone as gift. I am so thrilled even with the simple thought of being part of iPhone-user community (the phone is not new and is locked). Since a year has passed, I thought why not drop down a few thought.

My most popular iPhone feature is listening to my iTunes collection. I try to make used the most during my 'down-time', such as morning/evening ride, rewinding session. It's such a late spring for me, as i have not owed any MP3 player until 2+ years ago. I suddenly realise that so much time have been wasted on the road and I have not making used of them.

As I buy into the idea of being productive, audio books becomes the next logical progression. Its selling point of speeding up my reading by tenfold sounds really attractive. Initial result is apparent. I could access several journals and books, equivalent to just 11 hours of audio, anywhere I go. No more wasting time: tick.

I find I could take care many of my daily workflow from work ... replying emails, reading documents, browsing through news snapshot etc. Becoming more productive: tick.

As iPhone becomes part of my daily workflow, I become more aware of backing up my personal data which is being "lock-in" with the phone itself. It is increasingly apparent that there is an attached condition of being iPhone community, that is, all my data almost have to stay within the walled-garden of Apple brand.

The garden is certainly not a bad place to be, for now. But I wish the decision is come from me.

From Natural Disaster to Digital Divide

If you have young kid, s/he may get the wrong impression that natural disaster is becoming a norm ... take a look at the historic earthquake, typhoon, flooding.

Techonolgy has advanced to the stage of carrying our society beyond space and time, but we are still trapped when natural disaster strikes. Our communication fails and transportation halts. Weather bureau could only allow us enough time to go home or for shelter. It ironically brings everybody from both sides of digital divide to level playing field, where we could only wait to be rescued.

One may argue that the super-rich could still flee out in-advance, just like those able to get in Titanic's lifeboats.

I'm getting sidetrack ...

Digital society to me should also be safe place for living. Thus under current climax, the adoption of technology in weather forecast and disaster relieve must be factor-in.

Interacting with Idol

Our world has lost a few popular figures recently. One is an icon in pop music, with a few flaws, but nevertheless a hugely popular idol.

Idol seeking has always been within us. "The human heart is a factory of idols" (John Calvin).

Before TV and internet, fans could only be as close as what the print media and radio (audio) provides. Interaction is very indirect but yet provocative, much to do with the element of hidden mystery. I could still remember all those wall posters in my bedroom.

With cable TV and MTV, we could get much closer in real-time and 24/7. The veil of mystery is next to non-existence. The raw and nostalgic feel of excitment is often shortlive, quickly trashed by rumour and private life leaked by someone else who tries to boost their viewer-rating and advertising goal.

With the aid of digital media, fans are now driven by addiction of sort. It is becoming part of life.

Not to worry. With the current capacity of production in film, music and sports (not to mention those American 'heroes' appearing in spike), there won't be any shortage of idol supply.

Performer vs Entertainer

After Paul Potts, we now embrace Susan Boyle with nostalgic feel.
Make no mistake. The stage is for raw talent (not youth idol) be recognised, yet all the audience and panel judges, who are supposed to have neutral stance, simply presume that she could not sing.

Collette Douglas writing in Herald put it best when she said: "Not only do you have to be physically appealing to deserve fame; it seems you now have to be good-looking to merit everyday common respect."

The fact of our culture's value system exalting beauty elevates it as a prerequisite for anyone to perform.

During the recent Hong Kong Film Awards ceremony, the best actress in giving her speech reminds us, that acting (or singing) is a service performing for the audience.

I hope such nostalgia would still apply nowaday.

Susan Boyle is now a celebrity in her home town, but doubt remains if any of the local youngster cheering her wants to be like her.

From Financial Model to Digital Media

WIRED has just published a very nice article, about the mechanism that causes the current financial crisis. It is also available through this link.

If readers find the financial concept boring, see if you like the following version better.

Financial model is kind of like digital visuals, in producing meaning from the underlying landscape for us to interpret. Within the process of interpretation, each individual make 'sense' through our lens of history and cultural (economic) stance. In visual media, our interpretation is all personal as everyone sees thing differently. I think it is also applied in financial modelling. There aren't necessarily a 'correct' view, only collective stance.

As we have witnessed, the collective view doesn't represent the "true" picture. In the case of financial world, it is the massive default of mortgage pool. Collective view merely represents a group of think-alike (not necessary believers) in describing their understanding of picture, with degree of comfort and probability-reasoning (a.k.a. correlation).

What's next. They want power control over the rest of community (of how picture should be viewed and interpreted), and they want to make money out of it. So they starts formalising their interpretation into de facto standard, kind of like the proprietary format for digital visuals. By now readers should be able to tell what's followed (read more).

As for the rest of the community, some have joined the proprietary club and others (mostly the poor and the realist) don't. But ultimately none of us is intact after the fall, as everyone is connected to the digital world.

Financial Impact of Digital Embodiment

One night while watching TV (pressing and switching channels to be more precise), the '6 billion Others' clip shows up. In case you have not heard of it before, here is the web link.

A close-up of a black woman (not sure her origin) has said the following: "I don't pay much attention to the technology and its benefit because I don't get to enjoy them anyway. But I am interested in the person who is using the technology turns into".

Her opinion sounds to me more like a critique. She points out, on one hand, the irony of inventing technology and the digital disparity against the poor. And for those of us who gets to use the technology (work or personal), are we utilise it in such a way to make things better for everyone.

Make no mistake. I'm pro technology. It extends our body and mind, while lowering the barriers of time, space and communication. On a personal standpoint, it is just fascinating to see how different culture adopt technology in their context (perhaps in later blog).

The impact of technology could be equally damaging, if we use it for self-driven motive. For evidence look no further than the current financial crisis. When we empower to after individual (corporate) gain ahead of our community, greed will eventually take over and (with technology) causing financial damage beyond physical time and space allowed.

A quiz. Who are the 'winners' from this financial tsunami?

The irony emerges when the poor who do not have access to technology nor any money to invest are better off, at least initially.

Cutting Back ... the Digital Way

Tough time is ahead of us, in what is considered to be one of the worst economic downturn in history. No matter if one still has a job or already queuing up for dole, everyone are cutting back in spending.

A number of reports from United States give ideas of how people practice cost saving.

One news story reports that average citizen opt to cutback daily items like food, petrol and internet connection. But at least one expense is untouchable, that is cinema/movie entertainment on weekly basis. It is a kind of getaway from reality for them. Statistics prove that cinema/movie business is particularly strong during economic downturn.

Another research has found an interesting trend. Mobile-phone users, who earn less than median household income, have cutting back from multiple digital gadgets and services. They instead opt for the "Swiss-army knife" type of smartphone, combining digital entertainment, communication and mobile browsing. Even though price-tag of such smartphone plus its monthly phone service (starting from US$70) is extravagant at their standard, the formula proves to work.

What is your formula?