What’s being discussed in the talk? [br] [originaltext]F: Well, I’m sure all ou

F: Well, I’m sure all our listeners would love to be brought up to date on the latest in tiny televisions.
M: It’s an expanding market, that’s for sure, and they seem to be getting smaller every year.
F: Which countries are dominating the market?
M: At the moment it’s Japan, principally. In the spring of 1982 Sony introduced the Watchman?
F: Is that the Walkman?
M: No, the Watchman is a portable black and white TV set with a tiny screen and aerial.
F: How big is the whole thing?
M: Oh, I’d say about 35 cm by 12 cm and it weighs only a couple of kilograms.
F: Was it a success from the start?
M: Funnily enough, a Sony executive said that no one would want to watch a TV while walking around—and also a slightly larger model could be bought for half the price!
F: Really?
M: But, despite this pessimistic view, sales of this model far outnumbered projections.
F: Well, you never can tell! How big was the initial production?
M: The company started with 2,000 units per month and increased to 5,000 by the end of 1982, but they still couldn’t keep up with the demand.
F: So I suppose they upped the production levels even higher.
M: It was much more radical than that! In the spring of 1983 Sony pulled out all the stops and launched the Watchman all over again with a new model.
F: Oh, what’s it like?
M: Well, it’s 20 per cent smaller and the price is 25 percent less...
F: Mmmm.
M: and the components were designed from scratch.
F: And what about production levels?
M: They quadrupled to 20,000 units a month just for the Japanese market!
F: Wow! The Watchman certainly seems to have taken off.
M: Indeed it has.
F: And I believe there were other Japanese companies as well.
M: Yes. At the end of 1982 Hattori—that’s H-A-T-T-O-R-I--you know, the makers of Seiko watches-well, they unveiled an even smaller TV, around 3era, which is built into a wrist-watch.
F: Incredible!
M: It certainly is. The rest of the set is carried separately in your pocket and it’s about the size of a packet of kingsize cigarettes.
F: And how does it work?
M: It has a liquid crystal display screen. The TV receiver and battery pack fit into your pocket, and they’re connected by a cord to the watch.
F: Is there a headphone?
M: Oh, yes, that’s plugged into the receiver as well.
F: Seems a bit complicated, that one, with all the wires and bits and pieces.
M: Yes, it does.
F: Any other Japanese models?
M: Yes, Casio—that’s C-A-S-I-O. Their latest is a calculator-sized TV about one-third the bulk of the Watchman and with 1983 production figures of 2000 units a month.
F: I see.
M: And, according to a spokesman, they hope to match their calculator sales, which are about 25 million units per year.
F: Very impressive. And no doubt other Japanese companies will jump on the bandwagon.
M: Most likely.
F: Now, could you tell us about other countries making these tiny TVs?
M: Of course. From Sinclair in England there’s one similar in size to the Casio, and their production levels were 1 million for 1983.
F: Obviously they’re planning on backing a winner!
M: How right you are. A representative said they expect a mass-market response, not just a novelty item.
F: And just which market are the manufactures aiming at?
M: Mainly the commuters who spend hours going to and from work. These TVs will provide relief from the monotonous train and bus rides.
F: Well, thank you for keeping us in touch with this extremely popular gadget.
M: My pleasure, and happy viewing to all of you with those TVs.