4 ms·

Lots of people say "don't get it" when faced with a new technology. That's the problem with generic platforms. "Why would I need a smartphone" is a similar ques

by gnaffle 13y ago

Lots of people say "don't get it" when faced with a new technology. That's the problem with generic platforms. "Why would I need a smartphone" is a similar question. The potential answers are obvious today, but they weren't 10 years ago. I don't think it's about understanding, but rather imagining what could be done better with this technology. A lot of workers are carrying barcode scanners and tablets around in the field today because they need to input or access information. That's a potentially very lucurative niche. I don't really think (and certainly don't hope) Google Glass will ever be socially acceptable, though.

ohwp 13y ago
Well I still don't own a smartphone because I ask myself the question "Why would I need a smartphone". And when I look around a lot of people don't need it. So in a way "I don't get" why a lot of people "need" a smartphone.
- UberMouse 13y ago
  I don't need a smartphone, but it's convenient and useful.
- dm2 13y ago
  The people who do not need a smartphone, a tablet, or a HUD shouldn't purchase one. If they feel pressure from society to buy one or just want to see what all the fuss is about, then that's their choice. People who purchase one for the games are doing nothing but providing funding to help improve the technology for the people who actually do have uses for smart-phones. There are TONS of practical uses for smart-phones, but there are also billions of people living on this planet who don't have a use for them.
- gnaffle 13y ago
  And that's OK. Not everyone needs a smartphone, but that wasn't my point. My point was that many people (even tech people) immediately ask this question in a dismissive way before they have even started to think about what this technology can be used for. I know people who thought smartphones weren't for them, but suddenly they discovered they were easier to use than their old Nokia phone and had QWERTY keyboards so they could write text messages without learning T9. I never imagined that a tablet would be so useful for flying and didn't see a need for one before that.

by gnaffle 13y ago

ohwp 13y ago

Well I still don't own a smartphone because I ask myself the question "Why would I need a smartphone". And when I look around a lot of people don't need it. So in a way "I don't get" why a lot of people "need" a smartphone.

UberMouse 13y ago
I don't need a smartphone, but it's convenient and useful.
dm2 13y ago
The people who do not need a smartphone, a tablet, or a HUD shouldn't purchase one. If they feel pressure from society to buy one or just want to see what all the fuss is about, then that's their choice. People who purchase one for the games are doing nothing but providing funding to help improve the technology for the people who actually do have uses for smart-phones. There are TONS of practical uses for smart-phones, but there are also billions of people living on this planet who don't have a use for them.
gnaffle 13y ago
And that's OK. Not everyone needs a smartphone, but that wasn't my point. My point was that many people (even tech people) immediately ask this question in a dismissive way before they have even started to think about what this technology can be used for. I know people who thought smartphones weren't for them, but suddenly they discovered they were easier to use than their old Nokia phone and had QWERTY keyboards so they could write text messages without learning T9. I never imagined that a tablet would be so useful for flying and didn't see a need for one before that.