14 DAY TRIAL // Sony announced it conducted a new study on finding new ways in which selfies can be used in the future. Sony claims that selfies have become a cultural phenomenon, while some people even spend hours each day taking the perfect selfie picture.
The company says that the camera is one of the most important elements of any modern smartphone, being equipped with multiple features for capturing moments and sharing them with friends. Sony’s Xperia XZ flagship has a 13MP front camera, delivering stunning selfies.
Some smartphone makers have seen the users' desire to have high-capacity front cameras and have incorporated powerful selfie snappers even on mid-range phones. The Galaxy A7 (2017) is a good example with its 16MP front camera, with f/1.9 aperture.
Sony has teamed up with Dr. Ian Pearson, member of the World Academy of Art and Science, to explore various possibilities in which multiple industry sectors could benefit from applications of smartphone photography and selfies.
Selfies could be used in the medical sector, retail and banking
Dr Pearson concluded that smartphone photography and selfies could be used in the medical sector, where patients could schedule video calls with their doctors, instead of wasting time in a waiting room. Moreover, “selfie passwords” could be used in the banking section. A study has shown that half of the people between the ages 25-34 would prefer to access their bank accounts by taking a selfie and allowing the network to identify them.
Dr Pearson found another application in the retail business, where customers could use the selfie camera to try on different outfits and see which one fits them better. The robotics sector could also benefit from selfie applications, as people could use smartphones to control drones and robots to take selfies in extreme locations.
Part of Sony’s study was conducted in the UK, where people take 24 selfies per month on average and need more than five tries to be satisfied with the end result. 75% of women take selfies, while 65% of men use the front smartphone camera for snapping pictures of themselves. Almost 18% of people would feel more secure if they could use selfies to access their bank account.