TechnoMedia Summit
2004: An Exhibitor’s View
While walking towards SM Megamall’s Megatrade
Hall “B” to take a look at Virtual Asia’s
booth (and also serve as one of the booth’s technical
people) during the 2004 TechnoMedia Summit, I spotted
the other Megatrade Hall already empty and being cleaned
after Hewlett-Packard used it for one of its product
promotions. Later, I found out that they were exchanging
damaged HP printers for new ones, and all you needed
to do was to bring in your dead, old, or damaged HP printer
and pay half-price for a new printer.
I realized then that Filipinos (aside from loving big
bargains like the HP promo) really are quick to embrace
new technologies much like First-World countries such
as the US and most of Europe. Ever notice how a cell
phone user is eager to replace a unit that is barely
three months old only because new models have arrived
at their favorite mall stores? How about movie lovers
starving themselves for months on end only so they can
save enough cash to purchase that brand-spanking-new
big-screen high-definition flat-panel TV and watch their
favorite (pirated) DVDs? We do love our gadgets, and
the gadgets keep coming to our shores to continually
tease us and give us that “techno-itch” we
are so eager to constantly scratch.
This eagerness, this love for new things, must have
been the driving force that prompted the organizers of
the 2004 TehnoMedia Summit to create a venue wherein
local distributors, manufacturers and developers can
showcase their new products and engage the Filipinos’ love
for new technology. With this TechnoMedia Summit, tech-savvy
Pinoys were able to see the future of portable entertainment,
the current crop of feature-laden cell phones, and the
latest in computing and home entertainment equipment.
I was amazed at the variety, the power and the portability
of these new tech toys, and I knew, if I had the money
to buy these things (I have recently placed my bet on
our local SuperLotto), I would have spent a lot to get
them and try them all out.
Who would ever think that in our day, the stuff of science-fiction
movies of the past 20 years will become reality? When
I was growing up, it never occurred to me that people
would be taking pictures of each other using telephones
that could be carried anywhere and send written messages
to other phones like it (http://www.nokia.com). I never
thought there would one day be a “Portable Media
Device” that could carry 40 movies or over 500,000
songs in a case that is only as large as your palm (http://www.archos.com).
I did not know I would mature in an age where computers
would be as small as a book (or even as small as your
hand) and could contain all the information you will
ever need (via the internet) and all the tools required
to run a business, communicate with others instantaneously
(http://www.twinhead.com).
With the 2004 TechnoMedia Summit, the itch that gadget
lovers normally feel when new products come along may
not have been totally relieved, but at least it was moderately
scratched to their satisfaction – until the next
wave of gadgets come along, and the technolovers again
appear out of the woodwork, salivating for a taste of
these new toys.
How great it is to know that these gadgets will only
get better as time marches on. I am starting to wonder
what kind of fancy techno-thingies will be available
5 years from now.
In the future, maybe they will come up with a way to
teleport me to my destination through my cell phone,
eliminating the need for cars and other modes of transport.
I just hope my phone gets me there in one piece.
For
more information about the recently concluded 2004
TechnoMedia Summit,
please go to http://www.technomediasummit.ph
Allan R. Samson
October 2004 Virtual Asia Internet
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