30secondTHOUGHTS: OIS ON NOKIA LUMINA 920

Perception is reality. What our minds think is real is really real. But when that kind of perception is compromised and bent to create an alternative reality, a truth disguised to induce the buying population to splurge on a purchase, the adage of perception and reality loses its conviction.

Take for example the recent brouhaha over Nokia Lumia 920.

EXHIBIT A: PERCEPTION

Nokia released the commercial below to promote the unique selling feature of its Lumia 920 - the Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) "which eliminates blurry images and improves pictures shot in low light conditions."

EXHIBIT B: REALITY*

 The commercial is convincing to say the least. Imagine a feature present in high-end Digital Single Lens Reflex (DSLR) cameras now available in a Nokia smartphone. The Lumia 920 video shots looked like they were taken from a DSLR! Or were they really taken using a DSLR?

The Verge, in T.C. Sottek's article Nokia's new Purview ad is amazing, too bad it's faked, was curious enough to answer the question and found the interesting gaffe:

The video shot in the particular scene was not taken using a Lumina 920!

EXHIBIT C: BACK TO REALITY

Nokia confessed for blaring reality in a blogpost entitled An Apology is Due and shared that "[the company] should have posted a disclaimer stating this was a representation of OIS only. This was not shot with a Lumia 920. At least, not yet." The company also released a video, showing a split screen of a footage taken without and with OIS, this time the latter taken with a real Lumina 920.

In the given scenario, the perception Nokia would have wanted the public to believe was not exactly reality. The case proved that consumers must never be underestimated. Their curious minds are their primary defense against gullibility and deception.  Everything nowadays can be discovered in a click of a button (or a slow-motion capture, in this instance) and the market can easily browse the web or use advance technology if they feel something is not right. 

 Nokia must have known that. They are, after all, a technology-based company.  Case closed.



*Video for Exhibit B downloaded from The Verge website