I heard a guy today say that his two year old can operate his iPhone.
Everyone knows that an iPhone is easy to use. But I hadn’t actually heard of a two year old using one. This illustrates the fact that it is in fact designed to such a low common denominator that, apparently, one need only have the IQ of a two year old to operate it, even if only to some limited degree.
This observation begs a few questions; if a device is designed for the average two year old brain what are the implications for the adult user? Does that mean the device will necessarily be limited? Or does it mean that it could possibly have some ill effect(s) on the adult, i.e. by treating an adult like a two year old do they start to behave like one, even if in only subtle limited ways?
Is it in some way insulting to the adult psyche for him/her to know that this device which they think is so cool and useful, and which they may well think of themselves as technically savvy for owning and using one, is actually designed for the 2 year old IQ? Lets find out.
Everytime you see someone wearing their iPhone as a badge of honor ask them if they know that it was designed for a two year old IQ?
Then ask them if there are other devices, toys designed for two year olds that they use and enjoy?
Yes, his parental gloating does change the circumstances a bit. This reminds me of the new Microsoft commercials http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rhre2C4THT4 (Mike- you may not have seen these as I know you’re an avid Tivo’er). The little girl stating that she “is a PC and is 4 1/2” is amusing but ties into the point. Referencing your * above, I agree that the increasing push toward easier and easier to operate software is no doubt a catalyst in this happening. The Microsoft commercial referenced above doesn’t show that the girl is actually only clicking the mouse maybe a total of 3-4 times to accomplish this task. It’s probably true that she doesn’t really understand what she is actually doing, but, being a younger mind, she doesn’t really ask that question, she just trusts that it works.
I think the older we are, the more cynical we become, causing us to always question the validity/nature of things. I think this creates a mental block for many adults, causing the seeming ‘inability’ to operate devices as efficient as children. I think that may also be a part of the reason this dad felt that his 2 year old was so amazing; his own doubt in his own ability to have been able to accomplish such a task when he was that age.
That all said, I think it is an amazing testament to the human condition. Even with all the crap that is still FUBAR in this world, we are still taking leaps and bounds over our ancestors. We are truly experiencing exponential growth. I think it is powerful that the people/companies in position to help this shift are trying to ‘lower the bar’ of intellectual pre-requisites for their devices/software. It allows those that would otherwise run as fast as they could from having a ‘cool’ device to feel comfortable being connected and therefore take part in this connected world. Parents are able to stay in contact with their kids/teens, grandparents can see their grandkids even if they live across the globe, and so on.
Mostly I just enjoy poking fun at iPhone users cause they’re an easy target and quick to respond! ;^) If I’d wanted people posting comments here I should have started telling iPhone jokes a long time ago, heh.
I am a Jobs fan myself. To a point. I like that Jobs is shaking up (maybe earth quake is a better phrase) the wireless industry. Those old stodgy behemoth companies with layers of protection from lobbying armies need to come down. Cell phones are a joke. Basically people buy the same device every two years with a couple extra software features on it that should have been part of a free software upgrade 3 months after we bought it. Don’t even mention the crappy cell service that we all spend too much for every month that hasn’t improved in 15 years.
Also the music industry. DRM may well go away all together if it plays out right, thanks to Jobs.
But in the end Jobs is just another dictator. The best products are always copied and eventually become ubiquitous. The best parts of the iPhone will be on all the other devices in a matter of time. Apple is good at bringing innovation to market.
Personally I don’t like touch screens for much. Some applications are great with a touch screen. ATMs (despite poor implementations, it’s still a good place for a touch screen). Any walk up public interfaces are probably a good candidate for touch screens. Anywhere you don’t have to do much typing but just a little pointing is probably a good choice for touch screen.
I’m willing to bet that the International Assoc of the Visually Impaired aren’t big fans of iPhones. I had a Pronto Pro universal remote control which was 100% touch screen remote control for home entertainment center. I hated it cause I couldn’t navigate without looking at it. I frequently use my cell phone one handed. It appears that the iPhone requires two hands at all times, doesn’t it?
I can type with my blackberry (or any other cell phone) with out looking at it because I can feel my way around it. This is handy at times: 1) Driving and 2) When you’re secretly tipping off the boss that the cops are onto you (The Departed).
Sure I know everyone loves their iPhone and they’ll say they adapt to the touch screen. Good for them. I’ll choose one that has a keyboard. I’m not going to ssh with a touch screen virtual keyboard.
These devices we carry around… these need to become just generic computing devices. True “personal computers” if you will. iPhone is a step in that direction. Before long they will all have cell service, wifi, gps, accelerometer, laser beams/sensors, solid state compass, etc., etc., etc. Just like all motherboards now have NICs and USBs built in. The damn wireless COs have been holding all that back cause they can get away with it. Then it’ll just be a matter of choosing the size/shape/brand/color/capacity/capability of personal device you want and whose software you want to run on it. Just like buying a PC. I would enjoy having all those gadgets in one device.
If anything I’d probably go with an Android device just because it’s open source and that makes me feel all warm inside.
We all remember the jokes of elders needing a child to program their VCR. I don’t know exactly what it is that allows a younger mind to adapt to technology much faster than adults*. But surely that same phenomenon is at play here. I don’t think this particular 2 yr old was a super genius.
But actually I think that was the fathers point: that his son was a sort of super-genius child prodigy who was so brilliant and mature beyond his (2) years that he could operate an iPhone. Before I realized the father was beeming with pride I had already burst his bubble by pointing out the minimal age/IQ requirements of the iPhone design. Upon realizing this I quickly backed down to try to allow the father to regain some of his parental glow.
I don’t expect that a two year old can operate an iPhone with the same degree of technical proficiency as an adult. While the child may very quickly adapt to the easy-to-use touch screen interface, even a two yr old lacks too much developmental maturity and contextual knowledge to be able to fully use a cell phone, pda, computer etc.
But the father basically indicated that the child had done two things apparently with little or no instruction; 1) had learned how to play a game and 2) was calling up You Tube videos.
Surely even this limited operational capability of the iPhone by the two year old is enough premise to raise the questions for discussion.
* Well, with technology becoming increasingly easier and easier to operate it’s no wonder that younger and younger children are so easily capable of operating them.
I think you are forgetting one very key variable: perhaps this two year old is simply smarter than the typical adult. You don’t hear about everyone’s toddlers using iPhones. Additionally, if you have seen the overwhelming trend the younger demographic has shown toward increasing ability with technical devices then the concept of a toddler being proficient with a device shouldn’t come as a huge shock.
One other thought: the very concept of “using an iPhone” undoubtedly has a swinging variance in definitions. Just because a toddler says, “da-da” doesn’t mean he’s actually talking though his dad may exclaim that “he is already talking!”
All the same I happen to love my iPhone; if that makes me act more like a two year old, I’m okay with that.
-Lee
-Posted on my iPhone
Heck every time I use the self-checkout line I have to get help! They need Jobs to design THAT system!
I know people that have cell phones for their five year olds. Funny how I somehow managed to live over 40 years without one. I’ve used the iPhone one time. Frankly, it wasn’t instantly apparent to me how to dial the number. (Where’s a two year old when you need one) Steve Jobs is a marketing genius. If you can make a device for two year olds to use then two years olds will be using it.
None of the teams I picked made it to the final four. I have too much time on my hands!
-J
I’m sure there are some two-year olds that can open a refrigerator door or start a microwave oven. I use both every day. But I do see you point here. The heating element on my clothes dryer needs replacing. Perhaps you can recommend a two-year old to stop by and replace it for me?
;-)
-J