HP Global Influencer Summit concludes

Company’s leadership terms bendable touch screens as the way forward.

SHANGHAI: The Hewlett Packard (HP) Global Influencer Summit 2012 concluded at the Shanghai Expo Centre on Thursday amid talks of what is in store for technology in the future.

The growth of the Information Technology industry has been phenomenal and with innovations, driven by creativity and in some cases need, making computers less costly but more valuable than a few years ago.

With so many new products finding their way on the shelf, HP officials said that the company remained committed in serving consumers since ‘the personal computer has become a centre point in one’s lifestyle’.

While the company unveiled its fleet of laptops and printers on the summit’s first day, the second day revolved around the company’s global leadership discussing the way forward and pitching ideas of ‘relevant innovation’ to meet the growing demand of enterprises and consumers.

All in One (AiO) systems are rare in Pakistan and touch interfaces are limited to smartphones and Apple products, but the ‘way forward’, according to HP officials, is developing bendable touch screens.

A variety of touch interfaces were launched along with traditional desktop PCs but for the Pakistan market specifically, the HP t410 AiO stood out.

This computer, ideal for limited-space-offices, is powered by a single Ethernet cable and runs on only 13 watts of power.

HP Vice-President and General Manager Commercial Solutions Business Unit Jim Zafarana called it the ‘ideal’ solution to a market like Pakistan. “It follows the three standard protocols,” Zafarana told The Express Tribune. “It’s perfect for a country like Pakistan since it needs low power and solves many enterprise-related issues like space constraints as well.”

Zafarana said the AiO system, expected to be launched in August, will be priced at $429.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 11^th, 2012.