I recently digitised some old videotapes that I thought my brother might be interested in seeing and showing to other people. Instead of simply being able to send it directly to his phone I had to go through multiple steps, convert the video format to something a Nokia could play (apparently Nokia’s can’t play all types of MP4), copy the files to a USB stick because they were too big to upload to the web, copy the files onto his laptop and finally upload to the phone. This started me thinking about how bad connectivity and integration is for most consumer technology.
The average consumer now manages a considerable technology infrastructure; televisions, cable / satellite boxes, broadband, wifi, digital cameras, media players, mobile phones, computers, printers, scanners, consoles etc, etc.
With multiple operating systems, applications, web platforms and file formats the average user has little chance of ever extracting the full benefit from their technology. Even apparently simple tasks like ensuring that media is playable across a range of devices or ensuring that their files and settings are synced between devices is beyond most.
Advances in technology are impressive but in truth most people don’t need more megapixels, more cores or more features. The average person is seeing diminishing returns from new devices, software etc not because the technology is failing but because new devices are adding layers of incompatibility and complexity. New file formats, connectors, software, batteries, chargers etc. All of which notionally add functionality and improve on the previous generation. Alternatively they make older peripherals redundant, require relearning of simple tasks or mandate conversion of existing media.
The time honoured answer from geeks and manufacturers is that we should be awed by the new features or RTFM. Surely we’ve moved past that.
When I buy a device I want to buy it because it’s right for me and not because it happens to support a particular file format, DRM system or because it has the right connector for another piece of hardware. We need manufacturers and developers to offer standards which are designed to assist the consumer, not standards which consolidate market position and secure user lock in.We need devices and software which work together, communicate effectively and add value to existing infrastructure.