If these products existed, they’d make it onto my Christmas list for me and my loved ones:
The open ebook reader
- Electronic paper screen
- A DRM-free format (in a perfect world) or at the very least a format that allows borrowing (from libraries and friends), lending and passing on of ownership, like a real book
- Not necessarily much memory (2Gb would easily do) but lots of battery life
- RSS subscriptions
- The ability to subscribe to the paper versions of magazines like the New Yorker and Wired (but get them electronically rather than on paper)
- An optional waterproof case to cater for the people in my life who like reading books in the bath with candles lit and a glass of wine
- Optionally, a screen reader
Bespoke television
- Streaming TV through the Internet, with an optional set-top box for a standard TV
- Subscribe to any TV channel anywhere, both free and pay, without having to commit to a package of multiple channels (although you might have to pay a TV license to get British channels, for example)
- Digital Video Recorder capabilities
- Subtitles (new media technologies shouldn’t be allowed to step backwards on support for the hearing impaired)
- Movies and TV shows on demand (paid)
- Pushing the boat out: the ability to pay more to excuse yourself from watching commercials
All-in-one health kit
- Blood pressure and unobtrusive heart rate monitors
- Pedometer
- USB connectors for all of the above
- Software that reads from the above and also prompts you to enter your age, weight, daily food, any additional exercise and health issues
- Produces fitness plan to meet goals, whether they’re improved cardiovascular health, weight loss, etc
In the meantime, happy holidays to all of you, and best wishes for an excellent new year.
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