Philip Jones, Product Information Manager – Video at Sony, discusses the challenges and drivers facing the connected consumer market:

What is the most important next step to engage consumers in smart home solutions, connected entertainment services, and/or value-added services like tech support and connected health?

The most important next step is achieving a more holistic, easy to use connected entertainment solution. Connected TVs have been available for a long time now but many people still do not use them to their full capability because they can be confusing to operate, do not integrate well into the rest of the home and don’t connect easily with other devices. Consumers need a seamless solution and simple user experience that ties together well with all the other smart devices they use both in and out of the home. Sony’s Android TV is a good example of this – the Android user experience is consistent cross-platform so users can have the same, easy experience across their devices.

What is the biggest challenge your company faces in 2015?

The biggest challenge is convincing people that there is a justification to step up to a more premium TV - because there is a difference. TVs aren’t commodities, and there are valid reasons to step up to a premium product. For example, just because a TV can play back Netflix, doesn’t mean it will look the same on every TV. There are a lot of technologies and features that will improve picture quality, and ultimately your TV viewing experience, on a premium TV.

What is the biggest driver for the connected consumer market?

The biggest driver for the connected consumer market is video on demand, propelled by the growing popularity of services like Netflix, Amazon, etc., and similarly in the music space with services like Spotify and Pandora. People enjoy the convenience of accessing their favorite content when they want it and where they want it – and they are beginning to demand and expect this accessibility.

What are the most important initiatives your company is taking in 2015? 

There are two important initiatives for Sony in the connected TV space. One, we want to make sure that no matter where the consumer gets their content from, whether it is streaming, broadcast, downloaded, etc., that it looks great. We continue to improve the picture quality in our TVs, with features like TRILUMINOS for a wider color gamut and X Reality PRO Picture Engine to upscale HD content to 4K quality. Sony is also a founding member of the UHD Alliance and will help establish new standards to support innovation in video technologies including 4K and higher resolutions, high dynamic range, wider color gamut and immersive 3D audio.

Secondly, we are simplifying the interface on our TVs to improve usability. That is why we are using Android TV in our 2015 TVs – it is already the world’s most popular mobile platform, so it is familiar, easy to use and easily integrates with other devices in the home for a seamless experience.

Describe your vision for the smart home and entertainment markets in 2020.

By 2020, all the devices a consumer uses will be completely integrated, bringing to the consumer a wealth of entertainment, whether its gaming, music or video, that can be easily accessed from any connected device anywhere. The technology will be so seamless that a consumer won’t even have to think about it, it will just effortlessly incorporate into their lives.

Philip Jones will be speaking on the panel “4K UHD TVs: The TV Landscape and Next Market Opportunity” at 4:15 PM during CONNECTIONS in San Francisco, CA, May 19, 2015. He will be joined by other company representatives from LG and NeuLion.

For more information on CONNECTIONS speakers, sessions, or topics, visit www.connectionsus.com. Register to attend today!

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