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As the television， communications and telecommunications industries emerge， compatibility becomes a big issue for consumers. I think we should maintain open and compatible standards and create features particular to Sony， in other words， the system should be open but the services could be distinctivelike restaurants. The menus may be alike but the services are different. Being president of Sony Corporation， I am often asked by this question： With digital cameras and digital camcorders ， what will be the future of digital imaging? In 1997， optimists see non-traditi0nal cameras ~ digital cameras achieving sales of one million units in Japan. We are selling a new digital camera. Even though the price is quite high， it is selling well. And laser and ink-jet printers have improved greatly for printing colour pictures. But traditional pictures are still more popular than those from todays electronic cameras. Because of that， traditional cameras and digital cameras will co-exist for a long time. If you want me to sum up Sonys vision for the next few years， all I can say is that there will be a big change. We can run our business at Sony based on todays technologies ~ which means the digitalisation of audio and video. But beyond 2000， there will be a big change and we should be prepared. This will be the network environment. So we are preparing for a big change in technologies and for a change in the way of thinking as well. | 
