Human technology…

Most Saturday morning’s, after football training, it’s usual practice for us coaches to call into a local coffee shop and reflect upon (and recover from) the morning’s attempt to turn 42 eight year old boys into the next Beckham, Rooney or Ronaldo.  Over a cappuccino or a latte we talk and laugh about what worked, what didn’t and what we could try differently next time.

So this Saturday, once the analysis was over, I hung around a while longer to consider what topic I could write about for the “Unleash your inner geek” competition.

At first I struggled, but then it didn’t take me long to realise that the inspiration I needed was laughing, chatting, reading and tweeting right in front of me.  People!

I considered some simple questions; how are people around me using technology and how has technology got to such a point where it has become deeply ingrained in our daily lives.

Unsurprisingly, the technology most frequently on display were mobile phones, laptop computers and tablets – all fairly standard kit.  My first observation was that although people seemed to be using their device(s) to achieve similar goals (reading, writing and talking etc.) the way people related to their device did vary.  Often depending on the personality of the user.

Some of the personality types I notice around me:

First, the iPhone Extrovert

A bold individual.  With double mocha chocca frappuccino on display (to be seen but not consumed), this happy go lucky soul clearly believes that a phone conversation is something that should be shared with the rest of the coffee shop. 

With the tip of the phone touching his ear, elbow raised aloft, he effortlessly projects every last syllable of the discussion he’s having with an obviously hard of hearing recipient.   

With the phone call over, the device is then casually thrown on the table with a clatter, just to make sure anyone who wasn’t already looking over, would do now.

Next, I spy the common Professional user.  

Too busy to work at home, this lady finds herself drawn to the coffee shop where she has marked out her territory across two tables using laptop, bags and items of clothing as a defensive wall.

Whilst it’s not clear exactly what she is working on this Saturday morning, she’s frantically switching between a range of devices occasionally looking up at the router on high as if praying for a better wifi connection.

Then, fast approaching, I spot the dreaded Lone Parent With Children. 

Arriving with a collection of young children, Mum deliberately tells them to “go and sit at that free table next to that nice looking person on the computer”.  The young mob consequently charge over and sit staring at the computer user fidgeting, singing and arguing.

Just when it looked as if things would get out of hand, Mum arrives with a collection of sugary drinks and some colourful gaming devices to keep them occupied.

Immediately a hush falls over the merry throng as the children power up their gadgets and, after intuitively working out how to connect their devices, begin to chatter excitedly as they all play the same game on different screens. Eventually, one child breaks rank, reaches out and downs the bottled fruit flavoured sugar causing him to emit loud “whooping” noises as the rocket fuel kicks in - on seeing this all the others do the same. 

Panic! The Lone Parent, sensing impending disaster, swiftly gathers up the devices and cries “OK everybody, time to go!” With that the fizzing children are herded out of the door leaving the remaining customers to heave a huge sigh of relief as calm is, once again, restored.

Finally this morning, we have the Lone Youth

Occasionally sipping the largest hot chocolate known to mankind this wide eyed lad is transfixed by his screen. His thumbs a blur as he frantically converses with his friends whilst simultaneously posting on Snapchat, Instagram, WhatsApp, Pinterest or any other social media outlet they can find - but definitely not Facebook as that’s “like, so for old people these days”.   

To this character, the technology itself is nothing more than an enabler; for mass communication, learning, sharing or creating. 

I’m left wondering if technology is making this millennial generation anti-social or, actually, extra-social?

As I watch these different technology personalities go about their morning, I sit contemplating another question.  Why has mobile technology become such an integral part of our everyday lives?

After all it didn’t start out that way.  I remember in the 1980’s the technology could, at best, be described as “portable” with both form and function terrible by today’s standards. 

But in the 90’s companies like Motorola, Nokia and Toshiba started to deliver products that could be considered as true mobile devices and people responded by buying them and using them…everywhere. 

The more they were used the more these companies looked at exactly how and why these, now internet enabled, devices were being used first for business then, as we see today, for anything…everything!

Which brings me back to the coffee shop and my final thought.  The job of innovation is only half complete if it focuses purely on the functional benefits of a solution.  It is only by combining the emotional user benefits that a smart technical idea can be turned into a solution people will value.

By looking closely at how and why people use technology we gain an insight to the true nature of that individual. 

Perhaps that’s why many people find technology a bit scary…?