Apple iPad will help create Digital Transparency

So everyone is bitching today that the iPad is a bit of a disappointment, that they expected something ‘ground breaking’ or ‘revolutionary’.   Well, you have.  What the iPad will accomplish in it’s first year is it will start to make digital data ambiguous.

Sure smart phones have started the march down the path of always on, always available data.  But iPad will push it to a whole new standard – to the point where it’s culture changing.

See smart phones are singular – an entity for one, a laptop is designed for one and a desktop PC is designed only to be used by  one.  But the iPad goes somewhere else: it’s a collective device.  It’s not easy to share onscreen information on any of these devices with others unless your under ideal conditions.  The iPad changes this, you can hold it up to show people the screen, slide it across a boardroom table, flip it around, pass it back and forth, put it down, pick it up.  The interface is fluid – quick, easy and efficient – therefore your not interfering with the flow of the conversation, the exchange of ideas – in and out data – no waiting for the laptop to boot, connecting to a network, getting the mouse to work, navigating a complex (attention required) interface – clicks and concentration required – and ultimately that’s the difference.

iPhones and all other computer devices to date are singular – iPads are collaborative and that makes it a culture changer.

Part II will look at how always on digital will change our society.

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