By Phillip Elton Collins
First and foremost let me
say, I am not anti-technology, if fact, when I was Director of Marketing at George
Lucas’ Industrial Light & Magic Commercials, I introduced many amazing
technical feats to the world. But I am old enough to remember when new
technology of the past was introduced it was user friendly. Now I realize that
today’s technology can do more. But I sense there is something’ rotten in
Denmark’ in today’s technology. When electrical lighting the
camera, the telephone, TV, fax machine and the first cell phones were
introduced they were designed to be easy to use.
Today most of our cameras,
cell phones, computers, and TV’s can defy knowing how to even turn them
on, let alone how to use them. It seems these devices are created to amuse the
people who invited them, to control us, and make a lot of money. We’ve
had to create an IT industry to show us what we don’t know how to do. There is
so much software in the hardware; they are hard to bare period! We say, in a
generational- excuse,” oh well, the children seem to figure them all out fast
enough.” I challenge that is the best use of our children’s energy
and serving their highest good to spend dozen of hours a day separated
from their fellow human beings mastering these marvels; instead of speaking to
one another, (they text with limited letter characters) and developing
social skills and their character.
Yes, technology is
powering us forward in a new, faster world. But I wonder if it is always
actually better. I believe there is a more human way to create how we
communicate and entertain ourselves. Do we have to combine so much technology
into a camera or phone that it is actually a complex computer that few actually
knows how to use unless they have a master’s degree in computer science.
I find most of the how-to booklets that are included with the purchase of these
items even more confusing than the design of the product itself. There is so
much ability crammed into the product, in a small amount of space, a large
handed person cannot find finger room; the booklets trying to explain it all
have diagrams that an Egyptologist would have difficulty translating.
Now I am not proposing
that we go back to pencil and paper but I am suggesting that we consumers take
a closer look at our decision-making in purchasing these often
confounding product designs that are moving us into being a more advanced
civilization. I am the first to applaud how cyberspace and the Internet are
breaking down barriers throughout the world. But I know in my heart, there is
greed and control behind why things are so technically complicated. Why aren’t
PC’s and Mac’s more compatible? Why does so much software not work everywhere?
It has to do with who makes money where. This needs to change.
Cyberspace belongs to all
of us. It is a way to free us from the governments and religions and others
forces that have controlled us for eons on this planet. Cyberspace, and
its products need to be easy to use and available to all. Keeping
personal technology complex increases their costs, and reduces
availability to the many…
Technology should not be
just for the advantaged or just for those who have money or detailed training
in knowing how to use them. It is a gift to us all.
I know there are some
easier designs and applications and voice-activated technology on the
drawing boards of corporate America. Let’s see if we can take some of the
greed, intense corporate competition out of the mix that does not benefit the
consumer. Now I know this is hard, but it can be done while making a decent
profit.
So here is my challenge to
all you designers of the products we have become so dependent upon in our
modern lives: make it simple, make it fun to use (words of Steve Jobs).
