I was listening to an exchange between two friends last night, discussing an innovative, compelling, but decidedly low-tech, solution to a common problem facing people who travel to a country where they don't speak the language. The other said that he simply downloaded a dictionary to his smart phone, and searched for the appropriate phrase, and maybe showed it to the person with whom he wished to communicate. This was a decidedly high-tech solution to the same problem.
There is no doubt that technology CAN do a lot, but there remains the question of "Is it appropriate?" and "Is it easier?" (Click here to read Peter Kusterer's thoughts on assistive vs. intrusive uses of technology.) Most people with computers in their house still use a central paper calendar to schedule their lives, even though there are perfectly serviceable online or PC based calendars and PDA's. It's just easier to look at the refrigerator to see if you are doing anything next weekend, or to jot down an appointment when you are on the phone.
My geeky friend was describing what can be done, and what he was willing to do to make it happen. My practical friend was describing an approach for the rest of us!
Low tech will almost always win over high tech for this sort of stuff. The jury is out on Kindle and the Sony Reader ebook thingies. I'm attracted to them simply because they look cool and run on batteries, but intellectually, I know I wouldn't use one over buying a paper book.
My iPhone provides me a bunch of functions that I do use -- particularly the function of using the phone as a digital photo album. I also like the email function and the full screen "real" browser. As a phone, it syncs beautifully with my PC address book for contacts, and I don't have to do any data entry. The iPod function means that I can take my music (and podcasts!) with me wherever I go, all in one device. I finally found a smart phone that did the stuff I wanted. I don't think I ever would have bought a Treo or Blackberry.
Clayton Christensen and Michael Raynor have made a career out of describing how money can be made offering lower-tech solutions to over-served high-tech customers.
A lesson that we could all stand to learn from.
