Continued from last week, we have Mr. Kunio Otsuka’s interview of developing the world’s first camcorder with built-in Bluetooth Wireless technology. Last time we introduced the basic specification of Bluetooth technology and also the background of equipping it. This week is about after the actual GZ-HM550′s development began.
Question 3. Now, we would like to know about the development stage, the hardest part.
As I told you before, Bluetooth devices will give full play to their ability only when they are paired with other Bluetooth devices. In good time Bluetooth equipped GPS loggers and headsets became widespread in the market, it was a big advantage for camcorders which can get the additional features they wanted by connecting to other devices. For camcorders, Bluetooth technology is a great matchmaker.
However, the hardest part came; deciding which feature to develop. It took more than a year to decide what can actually be done with Bluetooth. 30? 50 ideas, we came up with? Anyway, there were a lot. Come up with a feature idea, then proposing to people in other departments and we ask them their impression. Sometimes they say "it’s good", sometimes just say "No". And we hold another meeting discussing the ideas and again we ask other departments. We worked on this over and over again. So, to be honest, there are features that have already turned down but I am specially attached to. For example, features with GPS loggers. As I mentioned, we were having internal discussions about GPS functions before we decided to build in Bluetooth. There was one we were thinking to use map data with a fun application. I can’t tell you the details since I’m still looking a way to make this feature work. Anyway there were many interesting ideas.
And finally the features were decided, our hard times continued during designing the product. I mentioned many times that the key specification of Bluetooth technology is the connectivity. We spent immense amount of time to verify the connectivity of GZ-HM550 with other Bluetooth devices. We tested not only GPS loggers and headsets from the Japan market but also the ones from overseas. Regarding mobile phones which are already compatible in the use of a remote control or transferring stills for some models, luckily there was a department in which many mobile phones were owned so we borrowed from them to do the tests. And for additions, we used external institutions, also purchased some models we couldn’t borrow. Our concept of GZ-HM550 was to make it possible to connect with devices which are widely spread in the market, not like a special tool you have to look through the internet and send up from a long distance. It would be like putting the cart before the horse if GZ-HM550 was connectable to just one or two devices. That’s why we paid big attention to verifying the connectivity.
Question 4. We understood all your effort to commercialize GZ-HM550. Have you ever used the actual product? How was it?
Yes, I have used GZ-HM550. As an engineer, I can’t help it but I evaluate the product while using it even in my personal life. I used GZ-HM550 paired with my GPS logger. In my case, my child is still little, in the weekends we go to parks in the neighborhood. Recently we went on a short vacation, and we checked some videos on the PC after we came back. Recording GPS’s location data, we were able to see the files synchronized with Google Earth. It was quite amazing. My wife also enjoyed it. You can vividly imagine the memories of the trip again.
As I said, I am an engineer so when I actually use the product, it was really useful and enjoyable, but I also felt "I want to make it more useful and more convenient." For the next model, I would discuss and review the product further and make the features more interesting.
Question 5. Lastly please tell us your thoughts of future prospects of Bluetooth wireless technology and Everios.
As a camcorder manufacturer, I think we should stick with videos. The highest communication speed of Bluetooth class 2.1 is 3Mbps. It’s not enough to transfer high definition videos. However, the latest technology of Bluetooth, class 3.0 + HS (High Speed) becomes compatible with Wi-Fi networks, the development of this technology would be the key for video transfer.
On the other hand, another key is the scalability with mobile phones/smartphones. We need to make more devices compatible and also more features available. For this year, the use as a remote control and sending location data from mobile phone’s GPS is available with downloading a special application. You can also transfer still images from Everio to the phone. In the future we aim to introduce new applications that can propose new usage of camcorders.
And it’s just a dream as of now but, I want to make the JVC’s Bluetooth communication protocol open. Then there might be people which get interested in programming Everio the way they want. Well think about it; there’s a customer who works as a programmer buys an Everio and makes his/her own application and customize the Everio freely. If this becomes reality, the probability of Everio will expand.
More than 10 years have past from the day Bluetooth was developed so it’s not "new", but new products are hitting the market every day and also the technology is developing. The category of the devices might spread. And it’s not difficult to predict that Bluetooth would integrate with other wireless communication technologies, including Wi-Fi. The future possibilities of Bluetooth and camcorders are infinite.
The engineers’ effort bore fruit and GZ-HM550 finally hit the shelves. Using Bluetooth devices with Everio will expand the usage of camcorders. After you got a better grasp of GZ-HM550, next week Everio Video Hunters will prepare a report showing the new interesting features. Look forward to next week.
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