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DECT FORUM AWARDS JURORS
Caroline Gilbey, Associate Dean, School of Fashion, Ravensbourne
DECT Forum Awards jurors
Caroline Gilbey, Associate Dean, School of Fashion, Ravensbourne
DECT Today editor Manek Dubash spoke to DECT Awards judge Caroline Gilbey in the run-up to the 2016 DECT World Conference in Barcelona. Experience in course development, lecturing and industry liaison for
the University of Portsmouth at BCOT, the University of Surrey and The Surrey Institute, led to Caroline taking up a permanent position as Final Year Pathway Leader on BA Hons Fashion at the University for the Creative Arts. In 2007 she launched a new honours degree in Fashion Management & Marketing.
1. What qualifies you to be a judge for the DECT Awards?
I come from the creative industries – I've worked there and in higher education for the creative industries for 27 years, and the reason I was chosen by the DECT Forum to judge the product awards is that I'm looking at products from a different perspective, from the perspective of the design industry.
As a fashion buyer and product developer, you have to constantly stay ahead of the market. In fashion and creative education, we often create future demand in the same way that designers within telecommunications do. I think there are a lot of parallels and synergies across the spectrum.
So good, innovative design is at the heart of everything we do, otherwise the market would stagnate. Humans expect newness and expectations have risen dramatically in the last 20 years regarding innovation in technology. To me, good design is good design – that's what I do on a daily basis. We make choices based on design and fitness of purpose. People look at products from a number of perspectives, utilitarian perspective – i.e. does it work as expected – but also an emotional perspective, what's attractive visually and emotionally.
2. What is your perception of the DECT product market today?
I am not an expert in this field but it is my impression that this is a squeezed industry in terms of both aesthetic and functionality. If you look at cordless phones five years ago, they haven't changed much aesthetically. They look interesting but most look very similar – there are a lot of repeats, essentially there is excessive homogeneity – most are silver or black. Only a few look aesthetically pleasing –
I'm looking for something exciting. I have no pre-conceived ideas as to what form this should take.
Mobile phones have moved a long way but cordless phones remain the same – consistent but very utilitarian. They haven’t come up with highly exciting designs in terms of aesthetic or function.
I think the key market drivers will be innovative shapes, increased functionality, and better brand and product communication. For many of us, smartphones have fulfilled so many functions that we haven't pushed for innovation in DECT products. Perhaps it's time for DECT brands and manufacturers to offer us something new, stylish - and smart.
3. What innovations are you expecting from the DECT Awards entries?
So I'll be looking for a beautiful aesthetic and added value too. Good design transcends product categories so I'm very much looking forward to judging this event.
I've got nothing specific in mind but innovative features might include location awareness, such as a device that helps you find your mobile phone, passport, reading glasses, or keys. We could we have a code that links to the base, maybe using RFID, or something that uses big data to link up to other devices – I want a smart DECT phone. We all have so many different remotes for TVs etc., so maybe the new generation of DECT phones can provide a one stop solution to make the excessive remotes around most homes obsolete. There is no reason why a DECT phone cannot be a multi functional device or a location tool for all the other devices.
Summing up, besides a design aesthetic, I'll be expecting user-friendly operation, added functionality and something new. You could say that some of the DECT market has been
superseded or replaced by mobile communications. Many people don’t even have a landline in their homes any more, so the industry needs to create desire and show us why we still need DECT products and services.
And yes I would expect DECT to integrate smart home devices. It could include wearable technology such as the FitBit.
4. How do you see the DECT product landscape going forwards - what for you are the hot spots?
I think they will have to work very hard to hold their place in the market. There's a lot of competition out there, so for example, people with poor mobile coverage can use other products besides DECT to make phone calls over Wi-Fi. DECT needs to keep up with WhatsApp and all the other advances in mobile comms – 4G gives a huge step forward. This is a threat without a shadow of a doubt.
So a key question will be whether the cordless telephone can become smart and tap into the Internet of Things to become a crucial multi-functional device for our increasingly time-poor society? Can it become an object d’art so beautifully crafted – and even customised – that it complements the aesthetic of our homes? This is a challenging but exciting time for this industry – competition spurs innovation so I am excited to see the next generation of Digital Enhanced Cordless Communication.
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