Advancements in technological innovation are leading to the development of products that are increasingly sophisticated and multifunctional - a trend that is spurring demand for enhanced usability. Sony views usability as an essential aspect of product quality and is continuously taking steps to make it easier for more people to use its products and services, for example, by holding periodic user interface meetings and integrating user tests into the product development process.

One of many Sony products developed with a particular emphasis on ease-of-use is a remote control that features an enlarged area for essential buttons. This remote control also employs radio technology, enabling it to function when pointed in any direction and even when it is randomly left on top of a desk or table. The HX920, HX820, HX720, NX720, EX720, EX72S, EX420 models of Sony's BRAVIA™ LCD televisions come with this easy-to-use, multifunctional remote control. Sony Blu-ray Disc™ recorders feature the "Rakuraku (easy-to-use) Start Button", which makes operating the recorder easy—even for first-time users who don't know how. Pushing the button displays instructions on the screen (the "Rakuraku Start Menu"), making it easy to set the machine to record or replay recorded programming. The "Rakuraku (easy-to-use) Start Button" comes with the AX2000, AX1000, AT900, AT700, AT500, AT300S models of Sony's Blu-ray Disc™ recorders.

Sony makes sure the opinions of customers are fed back to the appropriate individuals and actively incorporates information thus gained into its product development efforts. Examples of products that have resulted from comments on usability received through this channel include an easy-to-use digital still camera that displays operating instructions on an LCD mounted right on the camera and a digital photo frame featuring a redesigned external storage media slot that makes it possible to remove storage media that has been accidentally inserted. Sony also invites customers to test out new product prototypes. Customer opinions are then incorporated into the final products. One example of a product that benefited from comments received through this channel is an easy-to-shoot digital video camera with a clip whose angle has been adjusted to 7 degrees for easy shooting.

Sony's commitment to usability also extends to special features designed to make our products accessible to an increased number of consumers, including the elderly and those working to overcome disabilities.

For example, Sony's entire lineup of BRAVIA™ LCD televisions for the European market features an audio description function that provides access to a narrative soundtrack for visually impaired users, and digital video teletext for hearing-impaired users, both as standard features. Another example is Sony's Reader™ digital reading device, currently available in the United States, Canada and Europe, which not only stores hundreds of books on a single electronic device, but also enables readers with low vision to adjust the size of the text on the screen according to their needs. Certain Sony televisions come with headphones that do not override—and can be adjusted independently from—the speakers, enabling hearing-impaired individuals to enjoy watching television together with non-hearing-impaired family and friends without fear of disturbing others.

Looking ahead, ease-of-use and accessibility will remain core elements of the Company's product development efforts.

Sony Corporation provides CD versions of catalogs and audio user manuals to visually impaired users and customers who are unable to use regular catalogs and manuals for other reasons.

Sony issues CD versions of catalogs twice a year with the same content that is released on Sony's website. These catalogs, which are produced by Sony Marketing (Japan) Inc. in cooperation with the Japan Braille Library, provide voice guides on the main functions of new products.

For some product models, audio guides that serve as audio user manuals and text data are available on Sony's product information website.

Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCE) aims to make games as popular as music, movies and broadcasting and has been developing our PlayStation(R) business for users in all age groups. Game industry organizations have responded to the proliferation of new game genres by introducing rating systems for customers in Japan, the United States and Europe (CERO, ESRB and PEGI, respectively), based on games' target age groups. The U.S. system has operated for more than 10 years and won top marks from the public not only for indicating age categories but also for being the first to add descriptions that detail the contents of a game. PEGI is endorsed by the European Commission as a paradigm of self-regulation in the entertainment industry. In Japan, measures are being promoted to make the system more effective, including, with the cooperation of retailers, the voluntary refusal to sell software rated by CERO for ages 18 and above to underage customers.
  To regulate access by underage users, SCE has included a Parental Lock function in PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) and PLAYSTATION®3. This function enables customers to adjust access levels and limit children's access only to appropriate software across the PlayStation® platform.
  With the average age of Web users declining, concern is growing about sites on the Internet containing content that is inappropriate for or harmful to children. So-net Entertainment Corporation, which provides an Internet-related service in Japan, has introduced "Site Select", a filtering system that blocks access to such sites, as well as to sites targeted by phishing scams, thereby aiming to create an environment in which the whole family can enjoy Internet use worry free.