Panasonic bets big on smart gadgets to drive up sales

Electronics maker Panasonic is betting big on governments and companies in Africa that are investing heavily on ICT to boost sales for its new range of products.

The Japanese firm’s seeks to provide innovative products that will enhance various types of businesses.
“Our key growth strategy is offering tailor-made business solutions to the Business to Business (B2B) and Business to Government (B2G) sectors,” the Managing Director Panasonic Marketing Middle East and Africa, Mr Shinichi Wakita told SmartCompany.

“We are optimistic that our product strength and technology leadership will easily complement and support all types of business requirements.”

Panasonic is eyeing South Africa, Egypt, Nigeria and Kenya markets to drive the uptake of its new range of products as it spreads across the continent, Mr Wakita said during the 35th GITEX expo held in Dubai on October 18-22.

The firm is targeting real estate, retail, hospitality, lifestyle and entertainment industries.

“Products from Panasonic will smooth out the process of embracing Internet of Things (IoT). From replacement of non-compliant devices to ideating new strategies, our latest solutions will facilitate technological change management,” Mr Wakita said during the ICT exhibition that is billed to be the business gateway to the Middle East, Africa and South Asia.

Smart Company picks out some of the standout products that Panasonic exhibited at this year’s GITEX show:

INTERACTIVE MIRROR

Modelled to be the highlight of this year’s show, the interactive mirror is designed to be your beauty adviser. With in-built high definition cameras, the mirror is enabled with face analysing feature to point out every flaw and suggestions on how to fix them with a view to enhance a customer’s lifestyle.
It has an oval “augmented-reality portal” that activates with the press of a button on the remote. This product can be easily used by people of all ages.
“It is the smartest development in the field of beauty. This smart mirror gives an image of the future. It has the ability to detect skin conditions and recommend how to improve it, vital statistics check, magnifier and rear view too,” the company said.
The mirror makes suggestions for beauty tips such as what diet to consider based on one’s face type. The glass is both a mirror and a display. Transparent overlays on top of the user’s image appear, through which it identifies parts of the face, for example — where the cheekbones are, and suggests makeup for those spots.
The interactive mirror targets entrepreneurs running makeup or beauty clinics, fashion shops, high-end residential properties, hotels and even film production houses. Men can try on virtual beards and mustaches that suit on their facial contour.

LIGHT ID
Unlike image-reading methods such as the conventional QR codes, Panasonic has developed Light ID system that uses LED as the light source for smartphones to read the optical ID signals containing various kinds of information. In this system, ID is transmitted from LED light source (digital signage or LED illumination) and corresponding content is then downloaded from the server.  “The Light ID only requires users to download an app onto their smartphones. It then uses the phone’s image sensor (camera) to receive light ID and read it using the app,” Panasonic said.
The product targets museums, retail stores, tourist hubs and malls among similar others. It can be used to supplement the explanations of goods in stores and as a solution for obtaining information from signs that use LED light source.
“This technology is several times faster than previous systems and can capture more detailed information and receive multilingual explanations from digital signage with more efficiency.”

DATA ARCHIVER
Currently in use by social media giant Facebook, this product uses Panasonic’s robotics technology to archive as much as 91.2 terabits of data allowing up to six expansion modules to store well over 638.4 terabits of data. The system is expected to meet the needs of the next generation businesses as well as governments with its ability to store data for a long period of time.

In an age where data for both governments and businesses is rising exponentially, Panasonic’s LB-DH8 series optical disc library system allows a storage life of over 50 years, which is safe and secure for large volumes of data at a low running cost.

“It has an easy maintenance feature which reduces the downtime during business hours. Its resistance to heat and humidity also lessens the AC usage and reduces costs as compared to hard discs,” Mr Noriyuki Hayashi, general manager, B2B solutions said. “In future, the optical discs are expected to form the mainstream of data archiving and set to facilitate business sustainability,” he added.

VIDEO INTERCOM

Designed for use in gated residential estates, Panasonic’s Video Intercom system allows the monitoring of visitors in the common areas, say within the premises or the parking lot. To keep tab of visitors, the device takes a snap-shot of the person each time the door bell is pressed and stores it for future reference. Its compatibility with mobile phone or tablets gives flexibility of answering and opening the door from anywhere within the apartment premises.
The VL-V900 Video Intercom system offers three levels of monitoring before a person reaches the intended unit/house. First at the gate, second at the lobby station at the entry to each block and third at the door entrance to the individual units thus enhancing the level of security.

SMART DOWNLIGHT
Meant for use in the retail and hospitality industry, Smart Downlight device has the ability to project on an object and follow its movements. It can also display information by using a projector that recognizes people and displays relevant signage images by identifying objects on a table. For example – on a shop table, focus can be set on the bag or top face of the table for an occasion. The Smart Downlight can also set up an amazing environment on a table using laser.

POOL MAPPING
Modelled for hotels and theme parks, Panasonic’s latest pool mapping projectors have a unique ultra-short throw lens and high brightness to project various images in motion.

It uses the world’s shortest throw lens for 3-chip DLP Projectors which reduces approximately 60 per cent of the projection distance.

This ensures a bright projection while saving space besides installation flexibility.

Panasonic’s advanced concept of creating this projector allows projecting an effectively large floor image from a location near the projection plane.

INTERACTIVE FLOOR SYSTEM

Targeting the retail and hospitality industry, Panasonic’s interactive floor system has a display size of about 85 inches.

It has four types of contents and does not require installation work such as hanging bracket and sensor adjustment.

It can generate interest for visitors in shopping malls, retails stores, kids area in hotels/schools or theme parks and to draw people’s attention.

Panasonic said an interactive floor promotes physical motion, teamwork, communication and creativity.

The projector in the ceiling creates various engaging projections onto the floor that users interact with using their hand and feet to solve various riddles and team tasks.