Over the past few days, I’ve encountered a few discussions with regards to gadgets and their overall uses. It’s quite interesting to see that many people these days are in fact aware of the various tribulations and difficulties faced with using various technologies.
Whether it is in the form of miniaturized cameras or stealthy Bluetooth objects, chances are, people might be thoroughly studying the various moral implications to that form of technology. Much of this thinking stems from either philosophies or culture attributed to the very same people thinking along those angles.
When I see the ongoing discussions with regards to who should be using popular gadgets like the Blackberry, I am myself also brought forth various questions that I’d like to personally understand and have answered. It made me think, and wonder, how on earth we would be setting up gadgets to the overall public, without better displaying its features in productivity in great detail.
What I mean to say simply: we don’t always display the positives of a particular technology in the intended context of which it needs to be seen with.
Are Blackberries (for example) the right device to have as a music player? Or do they run better navigation systems? And so on.
Once I start to question features within a particular gadget, more often than not, you’ll begin to realise that some of those features are more or less extras…than anything actually tangibly used.
Blackberries, to me, were always corporate devices that acted more or less like your office email system, only mobile. Full stop. I never predicted buying a Blackberry for its navigation feature, MP3 player, or any of the other added media options. Reason being that I actually see Blackberry’s intended usage as that of a corporate device. Not another device that can take the place of my Samsung Galaxy S2 (another example of a multi-media phone) or Ipod/Iphone.
This may sound funny, but when we start to look at devices as being able to do things we never intended them to do, we can begin to realise the trap we’ve been lured into.
Ever wondered why is it that we need to change our cell phones more often? Or that we almost always and at times involuntarily choose to buy the latest cell phone in the market. It’s reached to a point where we almost do this on a yearly basis.
Gadgets have become the new commodity. While in the pursuit of constant and ever evolving technological perfection, we fail to realise the power house of development and marketing at play. This all brings me back to my initial point of discussion.
Gadgets are here to stay, they are wonderful items that give us the constant push and run for our imaginations, but it is those who prepare, plan and thoroughly know these products that actually make the most off these items. They would be better users, engaged and up to date.
My only advice is that when going forth with gadgets and devices, one should practice extreme caution prior to purchasing anything that’ll give them a culture to latch unto.
Until my next article.
– Mohamed Al Jneibi
Twitter: @MALJUNAIBI
Blog: www.digitallysane.com
Source: digitalnerds.net
