An innovative and daring new iPhone comes out in two weeks. The 15th of its kind. Bold and resourceful like the last many. It will traverse unprecedented fields of the attention economy and introduce awesome stakes in the global economy. The masses will flock to receive it like they did the Nazarene babe of old. Lives will be changed and hearts will be swayed, yet again…
In actuality, it will feature a new frame, an updated chip, improved camera zoom, and maybe a button on the side to shortcut your favorite apps. Not so revolutionary in the wake of its originator’s very existence. The smartphone has been incrementally cultivated over a decade and a half to give just enough to keep you wanting more. It provides everything you need and too much you don’t. Planned obsolescence combined with stellar marketing makes tens of millions of people upgrade every year.
And who wouldn’t love the hype cycle and “innovation” Apple showcases? I know I’ll be watching the keynote Tuesday as we are sufficiently whelmed (and simultaneously awed) at the restraint shown by Tim Cook et al. When a company this large showboats, eager eyes are held in rapt attention. Long have op-ed journalists noted the religious vibes many Apple or Samsung enthusiasts exude (read about the connection a 2013 investigator makes). For companies that are quick to throttle user experience and scam their customers, novitiates continue to pay dues at the altar of commerce Big Tech erects. This kind of power (and ensuing influence over our wallets) is a combination of more than just sticky features and incredible stage presence. Society does a dance for engineers at the top. It speaks to something deeply embedded…
Having a smartphone is part of Western culture. To live in an industrialized nation is to own a device. Social pressure and in-group dynamics necessitates up-to-date technology (especially among 16-35 year olds, those most at risk for the slew of mental health concerns smartphones impact) and the integration of your life with your tech. This has become a social norm that employers, educators, and everyday people expect.
But what if it wasn’t? What if you lived your life without a smartphone? What if social media wasn’t a part of your morning routine? What if you owned a device that doesn’t release a new model every year? What if you could do meaningful work, not just with, but because of a simple, intentional, and unique tool? What if your phone did not beg your attention but sought to redirect it to those things that matter?
