So I was watching TV the other day and I saw a commercial for the new Polaroid One camera, a restyled version of everyone’s favorite instant camera. While I’m sure it’s nice and all, I think that Polaroid may be missing a golden opportunity to leverage their mind-share monopoly and leaving the door open for other companies willing to innovate a bit more.
It’s my opinion that film cameras are on the edge of the slippery slope and will soon be marginalized to artists and hobbyists, instant cameras included. Digital has wiped out film costs from the equation, and the cost of the cameras themselves are starting to fall as the quality improves. So why try and push the old as new?
My idea is this: Why not make an “instant” digital camera? Merge a camera with with a small photo printer in one package. Even a mediocre camera mixed with a mediocre printer would still be a phenomenal success if it were all in one package.
Take a picture and print out a copy on the spot for your friends. Take the camera home and add the pictures to your archive. With the camera attached, pick out some pictures and print just as you would to a normal color printer. Polaroid would make just as much money selling printer packs for this new camera as they do with the film for their “One” now.
Then again, what do I know about the business end of Polaroid’s business? I’m just an idea man after all. Still, every product starts with an idea. So, anyone out there want to make my digital instant camera?
Tags: Science and Technology
You should patent that idea. Then try to sell it. Or, just sit on it till someone wants to use it. Then payola!