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Saturday, 14 September, 2002, 06:56 GMT 07:56 UK

Sony offers glimpse of the future

In the future, you could be watching singers, games and movies from Sony entertainment over a broadband connection using a range of Sony gadgets.

This is the vision of the Japanese electronics giant, which is showcasing its technology at Sony Dream World 2002 this weekend in the city of Yokohama.

The show will focus on the link between new digital devices and Sony's entertainment content.

Among the gadgets are a digital television set that learns its owner's tastes, digital audio players the size of key rings and computers that can give you advice.

Thinking TV

"The broadband revolution is now happening," said Sony President Unitika Ando.

"Through Sony Music Entertainment and Sony Pictures Entertainment, we can drive demand for network content as well, and we are starting to make that happen now."

One of the products on display is CoCoon, a tuner about the size of a DVD player that connects digital television sets to the internet by broadband.

The machine has a hard disc that can record 100 hours of video. Over time, it would learn what programmes you like and record the shows without asking you first.

It is due to go on sale in Japan in November for about US$1,078.

Personal future

Other devices on display are further down the line.

On show is a concept model of a sensing computer, packed into a compact hexagon gadget.

The computer would memorise your preferences and experiences over time.

Another concept model on display is the Vaio Contents Egg.

Sony plans to make the egg-shaped device work at home as a personal server that can store films, music and photos.

These can then be download over the internet on to a laptop or handheld computer.

Other innovations on show included a flashlight-like device that allows you to project video images onto a wall, a dancing baby-sized robot and a videophone wristwatch.


Related to this story:
Games boom drives Sony profits (25 Jan 02 | Business) Sony targets broadband for PS2 (20 Dec 01 | Business) Sony warns of tough times ahead (25 Oct 01 | Business) Ericsson and Sony in mobile tie-up (28 Aug 01 | Business) Consumer slump triggers Sony loss (26 Jul 01 | Business) Spider-Man lifts Sony profits (25 Jul 02 | Business) Sony sales hit new record (25 Apr 02 | Business)


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