At this point, phrases like ambient computing, ubiquitous computing, and even the (electrifying) Internet of Things may be buzzing and popping around your brain. Are we back here again? If the answer is yes, it may not be a reason to despair. Béhar quotes Embodied: moxie companion robot, ElliQ elderly care, and the happiest baby An example of an AI-based device that actually “addresses a specific human need” is the robotic crib, but it’s important to note that Béhar is involved in all of these products. “We are designing these experiences to be built directly into the actual physical elements of the product, not just the smartphone,” he said. This reduces our reliance on doing everything on our personal devices, and we find that these solutions are less socially destructive and, in fact, more magical when used.”
Just last week, befitting his role as an elder statesman in the world of design, Sir Jonathan Ive presented degrees to graduates of the Royal College of Art and Imperial College at a ceremony at London’s Royal Festival Hall. Stephen Green, director of the two universities’ joint Innovation Design Engineering program, suggests Ive is the perfect candidate to absorb and metabolize all of the post-smartphone, post-screen experimentation we’ve seen over the past decade. Whether it’s voice agents, which Green believes should be used in combination rather than solo, wearables, Bluetooth beacons to increase fidelity at the location level, signal processing, olfactory sensors (ok, maybe we’re not ready to use that last one) .
“Historically speaking, that’s the beauty of Apple with Steve Jobs,” Green says. “Ultimately, it’s the marketer who has great technical insight and can build an amazing team of people and investors who can make it happen through what we sometimes call design leadership. So Jony Ive has many of the ingredients needed to achieve incredible critical mass to do something innovative, and he also has the support to rally around him. Because there are so many technologies and possibilities out there.”
AI’s iPhone
Of course, the first rumors and reports referred to the “iPhone of AI” in the sense that it was a hugely successful device that would give everyday people access to cutting-edge technology. The dominant components of any era-shaping system created by LoveFrom and OpenAI are likely to define themselves. against iPhone. The references to social dislocation and dependence on screens echo Ive’s somewhat incomprehensible comments about smartphone and social media addiction over the years.
Ive limited his children’s screen time, records show. On stage at the WIRED25 Summit in 2018, Anna Wintour responded when asked whether we are now “too connected.” “The nature of innovation is that you cannot predict all outcomes. In my experience, the results have been amazing. Some are great, some less so.”
One possible kindred spirit in terms of breaking away from smartphone norms and San Francisco culture is Anjan Katta, founder of Daylight. His DC-1 tablet goes against the grain with its 60fps paper-like display. He says harmful components of current consumer technology, including blue light, flashing lights and addiction-inducing notifications, can make us sicker and more anxious. “As someone who has experienced first-hand the extreme downsides of modern technology, including eye strain, circadian rhythm disturbances, exacerbated ADHD symptoms, and mental health issues such as anxiety and depression, I wholeheartedly embrace the effort to create personal computing. “It’s a device that doesn’t consume much of our time and energy.”
