iPad: Do they *really* get it? – RC Copeland
Having read over a hundred articles on the iPad, its pending launch and what the future might hold with this device, here some thoughts on the iPad. Some of those articles were negative and some were positive but what most articles are not… are practical. This article provides what they do not…a practical perspective.
I have read fanboys talking about accolades of Apple or about Apple’s terrible business model, i.e. that the golden egg doesn’t last forever. I have read everything from ‘Defining what your product does’ list to – ‘Is it appropriate for business use…’ – to David Letterman and his inane Top Ten list (which had some truths in it).
Even I didn’t understand what this device (iPad) could do until I really thought long and hard about it. What the iPad can do is offer simplicity, not just ease-of-use, but ’simplicity’. Most people don’t get it and here’s why:
Being directly involved in the tech industry for over 25 years, I know what a computer can and cannot do. I know what I want a simple computing device to do for me. But I am a techie. I tinker, I play, I tweak…. 95% or more of the population doesn’t (that percentage could be higher). They don’t care. They want something that gets the job done and done fast(; gets to the point) without having to learn for weeks or months before using the device. We wouldn’t tolerate having to put the spark plugs in or tuning the car every time we go to the store to get eggs or milk. So why would we, on a computer, to just check our email? Think about what you had to learn to do that. (if you are a tech reading that last sentence, chances are you can’t think back that far (even if it was last year)… you have forgotten. You are a nerd, like me… it’s in your DNA to forget back that far. The rest of the population do remember the hassle of learning and being frustrated because they are still there. So, 95% of the population are not nerds or techs…. they are everyday people like your brother, sister, mom or neighbour. They see the computer as one thing: an appliance to get a task done and most of their tasks consist of doing the following six things;
1) Browsing (looking up info where they know where they are going – ie: their bank)
2) Searching (thru Google for places where they don’t know where they are going and want answers)
3) Email (to communicate on a longer time frame)
4) Facebook / Twitter / Chat (or other social media – to communicate on a shorter time frame)
5) Photos (video), music, media watching (a place to hold / store photos (video) and music. Look at them. Listen. Show them off. Watch a TV show or a movie)
6) Playing Games (everything from peer-to-peer to role playing to solitaire/scrabble – (thanks to the folks at MacDailyNews.com – I hadn’t given this point the weight it deserved))
They (this 95%+ of the population) really were never interested in anything more about what a computer can do. They want to do those 6 things the majority of the time. Who wants to watch a movie sitting a computer desk?
So, imagine something that will do all those things (plus way more for the rest of us) without having to ‘learn’ how to use it. Without having to learn to ‘boot up’ the machine. Without having to learn about an Operating System (OS) because, as we wait for it to boot, we may want to know why it’s taking so long. Who really cares?
How about pressing a button where it turns on instantly (this is the ‘New Booting’); where the six things that are most wanted by most people can be seen on the screen; whereby touching the picture of one of those 6 things causes it to show up instantly? Poof, email opens and a note from a colleague is sitting there waiting… or boom, FaceBook opens and you are checking the wall seconds later or chatting with friends. Looking up something of interest in Google (which is of interest) will mean touching the Safari icon (browser on the iPad), causing it to open instantly – the Google search begins 2 seconds later. This device is small, light, affordable, and can do a host of other things. But it does everything necessary for most (of) family members, friends, and colleagues. It’s simple and makes more time to do other things, which may or may not involve this device.
It may very well revolutionize book, magazine and newspaper reading. Or change the way we watch any media, such as television and movies. It can be taken into the kitchen and assist in cooking, such as in looking up conversions. Perhaps watching someone else on Youtube mix or bake something will make it easy to follow along. How about for use in business? Or how about taking it to the garage and watching someone on Youtube take a part out of an automobile and the iPad is sitting right there beside you, guiding you along. Who cares if there are dirty fingers? The screen wipes off. It’s thin, light… and it can run a spreadsheet, word processor, even do presentations. Imagine working on a project, perhaps checking on the competition, then picking up the iPad and walking into the warehouse to check inventory. Its practical uses complement medicine, dentistry, manufacturing, teaching, sales, and the list goes on and on. But the bottom line is that this really is the computer for the layman, the moms and pops, sisters, brothers, (cousins) and friends who want to replace their desktop for something simple & practical. The baby boomers are now between 45 – 65 years of age and many have been frustrated with technology. With the disposable income of that age group and the simplicity, just watch: this device is something that ‘gets it’ and gets it well.
So it will revolutionize everyday computer use, and then some. However, I believe there are 3 things missing, in these 3 areas: short term, 6-18 months; mid term, 3-5 years; and long term, 5-10 years. They are the following:
Short term
1) a Webcam. This may be minor or major depending how it’s looked at. A webcam would do many different things and allow the iPad to be even more useful. It would provide communication in a variety of ways, from talking to friends and relatives at home, to its use in the medical operating rooms, to presentations one-on-one or in the board rooms around the world. Snap a photo of yourself and send it thru Facebook or put a picture on your profile. Take pictures for the grandkids. Show off the new office. Allow a room full of experts to watch the procedure at the other end. A webcam would be invaluable.
Mid term
2) Allow the iPad to fold in half. Think about this: if the device could fold into half its current size – the places it could go and be stored are multiplied. It really would make the iPad the device for the rest of us. That would make it roughly 7.5″(190mm) x 4.25″(120mm) from it’s current 9.5″(240mm) x 7.5″(190mm). It then could fit into purses and pockets. Could be stored in a desk drawer or glovebox. It would be an inch thick (26mm), smaller than most paperbacks. Folding it in half would protect the screen and have a smaller surface area where pressure (for example, in a backpack or briefcase) could crack or break the device. If anyone can figure out how to fold it in half and do it right, it’s Apple. I say, give them 3-5 years. (and Apple, please read this… it’s a good idea!)
Long term
3) Speaker independent voice recognition – dictation and navigation. In other words, talk to the device and have it respond. Give it a command and have it perform a task. For example: ‘Open mail and get new messages” Then perhaps have it read them aloud. Tell it to reply and have it then take dictation, typing the reply message as it’s being spoken. The iPad (from what I understand) will read text on the screen (if it doesn’t now, it will shortly). The Macintosh does, so I can see that being the case on this device. What if it was smart and acted like an ‘Agent’, a sort of executive secretary? Would it not be great to leave the iPad running and have it check all the media for the day – whether it be radio, tv, podcasts, online magazines, websites for subjects that may be of interest? Compile all that media, perhaps even editing out irrelevant stuff and having it available to read, watch or listen to at the end of the day? Having the iPad talk and communicate with you and having it capable of gathering info, based on habits or a particular topic, would make it incredible!
I believe Apple is already working on this and probably more… and if they aren’t, perhaps they will now. – RC
Wow! RC, your ideas are totally practical, common sense & useful. Futuristic.
Hope Apple takes note (& forwards some of its royalties to you!
Excellent and informative article for us laypeople, RC.
As a fellow geek I could not agree more. It’s nice to read a review that’s rooted in reality. Anyone that is not completely spellbound by the beauty and functionality of this device has a chip on their shoulder needs to a “time out”. Even Gate, privately I’m sure is impressed by it.
If flawlessly does exactly what it’s creator designed it todo… And quite frankly I’m tried of all the cry babies that want to do nothing but focus on all the things which Apple chose to NOT have it do.
It will also not work as a parking block for my Range Rover… My Apple IIGS can… I’m so dissipointed!
Appricate it for what it is… Heck appreciate everything for what they are… Not what they are not.
Think back to the Knowledge Navigator. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WdS4TscWH8 There’s your folding screen. Oh, and voice commands, and replies, and a scanner with built-in OCR and text to speech (except that I cannot find that particular video) Really, we’re not that far off from that 80s vision of the future.
I think the webcam wasn’t included because iPhone OS 4 isn’t ready yet. I expect to see a webcam in iPad 2.
Folding in half could be nice, but I don’t think the screen is as delicate as you make it out to be. I have had two iPhones and have never used a case on either, and I don’t have a scratch on either screen. That said, you have a good point about it fitting into purses. I live in Phoenix, so leaving the iPad (or any other computer) in my glove box would be a bad idea 4 months out of the year.
Voice recognition will probably come sooner rather than later. The iPhone already has some voice recognition, and I think it’s a natural to appear on the iPad. The only issue may be processor power for having it be a robust, always on and listening option.
Yes, Knowledge Navigator has been sitting in the back of my mind for almost 25 years. -RC
What you are talking about has always been the Macintosh experience. In 1984 when the salesman came to AT&T and I saw that I could do sophisticated word processing and make drawings without any training because everything was obvious I said I need one and ordered one the next day. I remember one program, I believe it was Basic which was the true Mac program. The manual stated: start programming now, you know how to do it. After you have some experience using the program read the manual and we will give you some tips to do it even better. My son was programming in 5 minutes. My wife always wondered what her friend were talking about when they discussed the operating system. The Mac made the operating system invisible as it should be.
By the way what is the big deal about a camera. You have one on your phone. How many do you need?
Great piece! I agree with your analysis.
As a teacher, I’m also quite aware of its potential to completely change the book and textbook market – it will lower the costs of textbooks significantly while making it possible to embed video, “games,” and other multimedia right in the text. This will open up many pedagogical opportunities for critical thinking blending with creative expression and social networking – a powerful revolution.
You might also check out “The Zen of iPad” article about the value of non-multitasking:
http://seekingalpha.com/article/197660-the-zen-of-ipad
Thanks again!
Great article. Although I really think Printing should be addressed before many of the items you mentioned.
Thank you for all the comments and comments on forwarding sites.
One of the most common things that people say that I missed in my article was the ability to print. I didn’t forget about printing – I left it off on purpose. Here’s why: Printing is not ubiquitous like it used to be. Those 6 items that this digital appliance is to be used for is about communication – a very high percentage of the time.. That’s what the kids want, teens, moms, cousins, employees etc. It’s the market the iPad is being targeted to. Printing is going away. That’s not me saying it or wishing it… I don’t really care. I have talked to retailers and read stats on the web. Printers sold, and certainly printers sold with a computer, are way down. Personally, I email a PDF of my receipts to my business clients. I haven’t printed a receipt in years. Do I think printers are needed and valuable? Yes, but not to the degree that most people use them. I bet you could email or save a PDF of the same document that you were going to print. Think about it. -RC
Interesting – 7% that have read this page have done so from an iPad. The iPad is just over a week old. Hmmmm…. makes you wonder. -RC
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