Convergence device

The project has 2 stages –

i) What is tomorrow’s convergence device?
ii) how will convergence impact each of the companies allotted to the respective groups (Each
group has been allotted a different company. Names mentioned at the end of page 2).
Stage I is common to all the groups, Stage II is obviously different.

Stage I – what is tomorrow’s convergence device

All the devices we have today PC, mobile, book reader etc might get rolled into one. The task therefore
is to see which of the scenario/scenarios listed below p1ays out. Will more than one scenario play out?
The different devices, technologies, forms and philosophies that interact in the convergence game are
listed below.
a) devices – laptop, mobile, book reader, camera etc
b) new technologies – surface technology, sixth sense, cloud computing etc
c) forms – i) small like a mobile ii) size of an Ipad iii) foldable laptop iv) a laptop that integrates a mobile
v) a mobile that gets computing functions vi) laptop and mobile remaining as separate devices vii) a
projection equipment attached to the device that projects to a screen viii) a shape and form we are not
able to imagine today because some of the technologies are as yet rudimentary (for instance, Nokia uses
Bend technologies that enable a phone or laptop to be folded to any shape)
d) philosophies – i) the browser as the primitive, so the device doesn’t matter ii) a dumb access device
that has all the resources (mobile, computer, camera, music etc) on the server iii) a digital home/office
hub, that is a single control for all devices iii) content neutral, device neutral access

What will the interaction between devices, technologies, forms and philosophies? Which 2/3 devices are
likely to come up trumps finally? Will it be a good idea to imagine the device based on user segments?
For instance what features in a CEO’s convergence device are different compared to a housewife’s
device, a servant maids device, an engineering student’s device, and IT employees’ device, et cetera?
What will be the range of devices available in 2020?

Stage II - Impact on the company

Stage I is common to all groups. The impact of the device however, will be different for each of the
companies. Group 1 will examine the impact of the convergence device on Samsung. Group 2 will do the
same for Sony, Group 3 for IBM and so on. After due diligence, the group concludes whether the
company allotted to it is likely to make or lose money because of developments in convergence. This is
rea11y the de1iverab1e for the project.

The credit you get for the report depends on i) how creative you could get in imagining new possibilities
in devices, technologies, forms, philosophies ii) how many novel devices you imagine from the
interaction of the devices, technologies etc. iii) how you zero in on the single device or two to three
devices that might eventually breast the tape iv) how imaginative you get in projecting the monetary
impact of convergence on the company allotted to your group.
Deadlines
First meeting –
I wi11 meet each of the groups for 10 min [in my office] to c1arify doubts regarding the
assignment, students are expected to read this note thorough1y and come to the meeting on
the fo11owing date
Date – 20 Dec 2010 between 5-30pm and 7-30pm

Mid term review –

The groups submit interim progress reports on the project topics. The interim group report shall have
not more than 10 typed pages for each of the projects. The faculty will meet the students groups with
the interim reports to assess the work-in-progress. Each group will spend about 25 min with the faculty
in the following sequence.

Groups 1 thro’ 5 - Jan 19 – 5 pm to 7 pm

Groups 6 thro’ 10 – Jan 20 - 5 pm to 7 pm

End term submission – deadline - Feb 16, 11.30 am

All groups are required to submit hard as well as soft copies. Soft copies of project reports can be
emailed and have to reach before the deadline. Hard copies should be handed over to the faculty in
class. If either the soft or the hard copy is not submitted in time the grade shall not be released for the
group. Late submissions shall attract stiff penalty.

Topics finalized for the project

i) Samsung – Tushar Sahoo’s group
ii) Sony – Jyothsni Reddy’s group
iii) IBM – Pawan Jangid’s group
iv) Amazon - Praveen Gopalakrishnan’s group
v) Cisco - Pranav Goel’s group
vi) Vodafone - Ganeshram’s group
vii) Motorola - Shreya Manjunath’s group
viii) Yahoo - Mayank’s group
ix) Facebook - Charvi Tandon’s group
x) Oracle-Sun - Amrita Chakaraborty’s group