STUDENTS ARE REQUIRED TO EXAMINE AN ASPECT OF CULTURAL CHANGE AND THE CONSEQUENT DESIGN INNOVATION(S).
Ruth Kirkland
Contemporary Issues in Design
- Modern History Design Research
Courtney Jepson
In a world like ours today, where everything is advancing ever so quickly, our lifestyles are having to adapt along with these changes. Changes are seen not only in technology, the economy and workplaces but also in our day to day routines. Over the last few decades the culture has altered according to different desires and dreams of the future. One persons dream these days often becomes a reality. Such things are usually based on convenience and accessibility, as the modern culture is tightly based on materialistic and consumerist values new ideas are based on the update or advancement of products. Well known car makers, computer brands, program designers and even clothes brands are continuously modifying to suit the current trends and desires.
The cultural change I am focusing on is prevalent in almost every persons life in contemporary society, that is being time poor. With the society progressing the way it is everyone is struggling to keep up, struggling to fit all they want or have to fit into each day. The G.F.C. (Global Financial Crisis) causes inflation of interest rates and mortgage repayments which puts a strain on our finances and to manage more people are trying to do more hours, stepping into several jobs just to keep the lifestyle they are accustomed to. Every day is utilised, every hour, every minute, our fast-paced lives draws on every possible hour to get another thing done. Companies are observing this change in culture and responding in terms of technology to accommodate, giving convenience and accessibility to everyone, especially those who struggle to complete all their daily tasks. So many tasks throughout one day is often seen as ridiculous to certain statistics responders but the media and society puts the strain on individuals and families to perform for the best possible outcome. This results in exhaustion, hence why in our ever advancing society technology has come up with a design to suit our needs.
For my focus in this research I have chosen 'Apple' and their innovative design of the iPhone, with almost every possible application one could think of or desire. Apple company established by Steve Jobs and others is a multinational corporation that designs and markets consumer electronics, personal computers and computer software. It is very well known and successful, over the years they have not been as popular as they are today and after the release and success of the iMac, iPod and iPhone they have regained profit and have become one of the leading corporations in the design industry. Firstly they focused on the computer and all programs that were essential, from 2007 where the recognition of the popularity of mobile electrons devices was noticed the company went from Apple Computer Inc. to Apple Inc. as their focus grew from computers to personal devices. The company is favoured amongst society today with a recognisable logo and products, including the iMac, iPod, iPhone, iPad which have recently updated into the 'touch' technological era.
The Apple Inc. success has sky-rocketed over the past decade, all products were created in the primary pursuit of making money. I believe the reason they have been so successful is because they have not only designed such an innovative product but because it responds to individuals and families that are 'time poor'. The products today are an 'all-in-one product', no longer will you see the new generations wearing watches, a watch has only one function (unless it is a fashion item of course, otherwise it is rendered useless or not as useful) the Apple products are highly accessible and with the growing sales are becoming more affordable for everyone. Furthermore the products hardly ever get old, if a new version is developed the older ones can easily download the new one and carry on as per usual, it is easily updated with brand new technology.
The iPhone in particular is in response to the culture change at hand, being 'time poor'. The product incorporates oral, aural, visual and physical interactions. Oral; by voice commands, aural; listening to music or being read books, visual; by 3D games also video phone calls, and physical; the touch-screen revolution. The innovative design incorporates everything personal with what is known as iPhone Apps, these are applications that can be downloaded or bought for the iPhone according to personal preference. Everything from networking sites like Facebook and Twitter to health apps, cooking, science and photography apps as well as thousands and thousands of gaming apps. A quick look at their downloads over three months shows more than 400, 000 individual downloads occur. In a look at the top 100 downloads for the month, the first 40 are games, followed by Food and Fitness apps, Trips and Transit apps, Science and the Web and of course the essential freebies just to mention a few. Today we are up to the fourth generation of iPhone, the designers are learning and improving upon the existing technology to accommodate the customers wants.
All this crammed work most individuals have to deal with puts strain on relationships and performance, the Apple Inc. innovation of iPhone and the endless list of applications has eased the pressure. No longer do we have to have several devices to perform different tasks, we can have one device that can do everything we desire. It is compact in design and efficient in usage. The apps are outsourced to other design companies to make any sort of application they desire, some are Callaway - arts and entertainment and Illustration Labs among others, that design apps that Apple distributes. Apple and their App Store have opened the door for many people with good ideas but have no driving force behind them. Designers say that they are given the most amazing canvas to paint on, as apposed to other similar products nothing is on the same level. Other similar products are difficult to use, do not have the power, tools available or the distribution network, the standards of both hardware and software is no where near Apples, the others are lacking the entity that Apple has created with, it has elegance and sophistication in the way they have architectures their entire solution. All the apps can be personalised including radio, podcasts and media (you could be your own DJ) all this happens on a tiny screen on a device that slips inside your pocket. It is a product that has matured over the years and this is recognisable by the consumers but also the designers, it is such a developed product that hundreds of millions of people are using, the Apple Store can be accessed all over the world showcasing many many designers work in the package of an application. The Apple Store takes care of distribution and therefore the designers of the apps can have fun and not have to worry about their product after they have designed it, making it better for the consumer. This innovation (especially the new and improved version iPhone 4) has and will continue to change the way we communicate and interact.
The whole package of the iPhone is appealing to every individual, including high interaction Apple has changed the way software is built and used. The product is essentially a toy, adults are more likely to be attracted to a product that makes their daily lives easier and also more enjoyable, the interactions allow for this. Some gaming apps are interactive and as close as one can get to reality it is fundamentally a new type of gaming experience based on touching and tilting, for example playing Labyrinth the player has to lean the iPhone or iPad around to get the ball into the holes, this type of connection appeals to the child inside us all. Also in a generation of technologically literate people this type of interaction is just common for the younger generations, children as young as 2 years old are able to understand and use most apps. This device appeals to the adult because of it's convenience (everything being in one device) and also on it's enjoyable level but also to the family, keeping the children entertained and also helping them learn along the way.There are so many applications that this one device can have it is almost unbelievable, and I guess to our grandparents it is but to our children it isn't/won't be.
'Smule' a company that studies the distribution of music and also designs several apps for Apple, have an application that stimulates musical instruments. These can be free styled or from a lesson that can be recorded and listened to by anyone around the world, they can also judge you and give you a score. This new revolution, the iPhone/iPad products means that people will not only be able to speed up their days with the practicality of such a device but this will lead to people relating to each other differently, they will express themselves differently all made possible by what you can do on this one device. The change in culture has sparked such a product so that our lives be easier and everything to be more accessible without the wait, this in itself has prompted another culture change where almost every sole is using this device and it is changing our lifestyles forever.
From many new and innovative designs in modern society we are no longer shocked by what it produces, as many decades ago a trip to the moon seemed impossible but now even trips to Mars are very likely, soon after communicating with someone on the other side of the world seemed impossible but now video calling and playing games with someone anywhere in the world is possible, this astonishing design has completely changed our culture. It was in reaction to our lives, where the economy has changed and so has our lifestyles to accommodate, hence the change in technology, which has in turn changed our politics, our social relations and environmental impact. This contemporary design seen in the Apple Inc. products is causing it's own cultural change. Additional research is being done into even more interaction with technology into our daily lives and routines. The 'Microsoft vision of the future' and developing 'Sixth Sense' are both designs that will incorporate full interaction of the world and every activity through technology, no longer will reality and technology be separate they are forever getting closer and closer to each other, I just hope we will be able to know the difference.
Our lives are becoming more fast paced and compacted, Apple Inc. has created a magnificent product that has combined several desires into one simple device. Applications are revolutionary in the design industry and for the customer. The printed era is almost seemingly coming to a halt, with the new improvements the resolution is as clear as a print, people can read books or have books read to them, check their finances and even have a reminder if the funds get too low, you can keep current with daily updates on news, weather and sport, you can keep connected to everyone via messaging, calling (video calling) and the web, all up the uses of this one device seem to be infinite. It has and will continue to have a lasting impact on the way we connect with each other.
Essentially I thought that this one device was quite sensational, the way it can minimalise almost every aspect of life into one compact gadget; including newspapers, television, radio, mobile, music player, gamer, computer and so much more was compelling. The amount of time and money saved by having this one instrument is pioneering a new way of life, the average person has one or one similar and all statistics and research I have done has said that it is convenient and easily accessed, something that they wouldn't ever want to live without it. Despite the entertainment features on the phone/pad, it is very useful in practically each aspect of ones life. Minimising the time spent buying several appliances and products, minimising the money spent on such and allowing for a better connection with people around and during your busy schedule.
VIDEOS SOURCED FOR PRESENTATION AT http://www.apple.com/iphone/apps-for-iphone/developer-stories.html
BIBLIOGRAPHY
28/10/10
STATISTICS
http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/web+pages/statistics?opendocument#from-banner=LN
APPLE http://www.apple.com/iphone/
TOP100 http://www.cnet.com.au/top-100-iphone-apps-339290773.htm
STORY BEHIND THE APPS http://www.apple.com/iphone/apps-for-iphone/developer-stories.html
OVERVIEW http://www.apple.com/iphone/apps-for-iphone/#heroOverview
29/10/10
WIKIPEDIA ON APPLE http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_Inc.#1998.E2.80.932005:_Return_to_profitability
IPHONE 4 DESIGN http://www.apple.com/iphone/design/index.html#design-video
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