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EPTE Newsletter: Using Smart Phones in Not so Smart Places

I was at the Genius Bar (a place to get technical support for Apple products) in an Apple Store located in Tokyo, Japan recently, and overheard a conversation between a customer and an Apple technician. A young lady in her mid-twenties was very distraught about her broken iPhone. The conversation between the her and the technician went something like this:Customer: My new iPhone has been giving me trouble for the last few days and, as of this morning, it stopped working all together. I can’t live without my phone.

Technician: Do you mind if I open the cover to check inside?

Customer: Sure.

Technician: Did your iPhone get wet? There are a few sensors built into your phone to determine if it has gotten wet, and it seems to have been dropped in water.

Customer: Well, I do bring it into the bathtub with me. Is that a problem?

Technician: Only if you drop it in the water, or spill too much water on it. This iPhone does not have any waterproof capabilities. You should be more careful when using your iPhone in the tub.

SILENCE...the young lady realizes the broken phone is her fault.

Customer: Can it be fixed and the data restored?

Technician: Yes, but it will take a couple of days.

Customer: Fine, just get my phone back to me as soon as possible. I cannot live without my phone.

Two things surprised me with this run-of-the-mill conversation: 1) I now realize there is truth behind the saying that it is nearly impossible to separate a young lady from her phone and 2) do many people use their phones in the bathtub?   I shared the conversation I overheard at the Apple store with a few of my associates, and most agreed that more and more young people are using their phones and electronic devices in the bathtub. Young women in Japan spend up to two hours relaxing in a bathtub after a long hard day at work. They enjoy sitting in a warm bath tub and talking, texting, Facebooking, gaming, or just perusing the Internet with either a smart phone or tablet. The use of electronic devices for pleasure instead of business related activities is very addicting. An electronic device or smart phone is a must-have accessory, even in the bathtub. For this reason, several Japanese electronics companies have commercialized waterproof smart phones and tablet PCs. I am an old-school engineer. I do believe in progress and I personally own two smart phones and a tablet. However, I have to draw the line at technically enhancing product so they can be used in the bathtub. Hopefully, this will open the door for expansion into other avenues where waterproofing is essential for electronic devices.   

Dominique K. NumakuraDKN Research, www.dknresearch.com

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Headlines of the Week1. Showa Denko (Major chemical company in Japan) 10/1 The company has developed a new silver nano-wire hybrid ink with a photo curing system as the alternative solution of ITO-type transparent conductive material. 2. Toray (Major organic material supplier in Japan) 10/4 The supplier as opened a PS laboratory for the technical support of semiconductor packaging processes. The laboratory is capable of managing 300 mm wafers.3. Panasonic (Major electronics company in Japan) 10/5The company has rolled out a new nickel/hydrogen battery with high energy density (2450mAh) and long life. The new battery holds 85% of its energy one year after a charge.4. NEC (Major electronics company in Japan) 10/9 The company has developed a new manganese-based lithium ion battery with high voltage (4.5V) and long life by introducing new electrode materials.5. Sharp (Major electronics company in Japan) 10/11 The company has commercialized a new humidifier, “KI-BX70/BX50,” with a “plasma cluster” that reduces viruses in the air.      6. Sharp (Major electronics company in Japan) 10/15 The company has received an order for 100,000 10" LCD TV panels from Samsung Electronics. Sharp will produce the panels in its Sakai Plant.7. Showa Denko (Major chemical company in Japan) 10/16 The company has developed a new high-efficiency photosensitive catalyst with a fine powder of titanium oxide synthesized for ceramic capacitors.8. Koito (Major car part supplier in Japan) 10/16 The supplier has co-developed a new photo fluorescence material, “CI MS" with a high internal quantum efficiency (94%) for white LED devices.9. Furukawa Electric (Major cable manufacturer in Japan) 10/16The manufacturer has commercialized a new secondary battery system with a 288kWh capacity as a back up power source. Size: 606 x 244 x 266 cm.10. Hitachi (Major electric & electronics company in Japan) 10/17The company has commercialized a new vein identification module, “H1EAX,” for office security system equipment.

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