Wednesday 10 July 2013

DEAR DIGITAL | the smartphone vs. the dummy phone

My 1st letter to digital is dedicated to the dummy phone. “What this all about you say? I always thought a dummy phone was one of those phones that phone stores used to keep as display objects way back in the day.”

What is the difference? A smartphone is a simply a mobile phone that incorporates a personal digital assistant. In short it is a palmtop computer that you can do just about anything with except stop your baby from waking up and going to sleep when they want. So you’re talking about the iPhone and the other iPhone and the new iPhone.

A dummy phone allows you to make calls, receive calls sometimes take low res pictures and if your really lucky allow you to view Facebook In only blue, black and white, kind of like the new mobile teletext. Honestly when I think dummy phone I think Nokia, with the old school ditd ditd, ditd ditd messenger tone.

Know you know all that I should begin confessing in this short write, I enjoy designing for dummy phones, there! I said it! There something about the restrictions that challenge my thinking. I am forced (a good force) to sit there and explore basic textures, colours and look and feels, in a very restricted space. Which is a lot more challenging that if you’re given an endless palette.

Shockingly I would like to admit even though I specialise in design for mobile devices. I still carry a dummy phone and use it with pride. Quite frankly I am at simply at that “almost 30 moment” in my life where anything that can make my life easier makes me happy. I am sure I will grow out as soon Apple or someone else {whoas} me with something that takes technology to another level, I don’t think this has happened since the iPad came into our hearts. So product designers, creative technologists I am waiting patiently.


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