Say Goodbye to the Digital Camera!We live in pretty amazing times. The generations of humans currently living on the planet Earth have witnessed some radical growth in the field of technology. Even the last 30 years has seen the rise of the home and portable computers, digital photography and a global information network of cell phones, satellites and the Internet. Each of the many different technological fields has had a major affect on our functioning as both a society and as a species.When photography first appeared many people considered to be magical. As time progressed it became a staple technology and was full integrated with our culture. The same is true for phone technology. The humble telegraph led to the phone and fax machines and in time this developed into the global wireless cell phone network we have today. Even if Thomas Edisons Telephonoscope never made it to production imaging technology and communications technology have been steadily merging. Both digital cameras and cell phones burst into the market and both industries have experienced explosive growth. Almost everyone in the world now has access to a cell phone, a digital camera or both. These two industries do not seem like the most likely competitors but it is looking more and more likely that the rise of smart phones could signal the end of the personal digital camera. Today we live in a world where it is possible to email, browse the web, make voice calls, play games and listen to music all on a device with a built in eight megapixel camera. For many people there is no good reason to carry both a camera enabled smart phone and a personal digital camera. The high quality of modern cell phone cameras provides more than enough resolution and image quality for taking snapshots. Unfortunately, due to the way that smart phones and cell phones have become essential life technology for most people, the battle is being lost by camera manufacturers. Even during the recession the smart phone manufacturers are reporting strong, steady sales figures. On the other hand the outlook for camera manufacturers is not as promising. I dont think we will actually see the end of the proliferation of handheld digital cameras quite yet - people still love taking pictures! However, as the technology for taking pictures using a smart phone or other multi-use device increases more and more people will see less use in traditional" digital cameras. Why carry around two devices when one will suffice? Furthermore, when it comes to lower end digital cameras, most people use them to take photos for sharing online. Smart phones and cell phones are web - or at least email - enabled and this means that they are easier and more convenient for photo sharing purposes. The niche market for higher end digital cameras like DSLR and larger format professional cameras will not disappear. These types of cameras are still far superior to those found in a smart phone. Professionals and other serious photographers will still demand the control those types of cameras offer. It is the small, portable, personal digital cameras that are going to disappear. Luckily smart phones make sharing and viewing pictures incredibly easy. So, while it will be sad to see small handheld digital cameras begin to disappear, I think we will actually be able to see and share more pictures and the world be even better documented than it is today. Camera technology and phone technology are steadily merging and the future is sure to bring even more advanced and powerful tools for us to use! |