A Conversation Enabler... Beyond the Phone
It really dawned on me the other day that beyond the obvious, the iPhone is truly a conversation enabler. Yes, it is a phone, so it is designed to enable conversation, but what I think is truly more profound is how this device is enabling richer in-person communications.
From the very first day the iPhone came out, I remember sitting in a local coffee shop with one of our new media associates and uber Mac fan (seen above) huddled around this device "ooing and ahhing" over the interface, the capabilities and all of the very cool features and functionality this "mobile phone" now had to offer. Our take-away was the iPhone was extraordinary and precedent-setting for sure, but there was something more...something I couldn't yet put my finger on.
On another occasion, months later, when we met @Jeffl and @Penguin for the first tiime at Blog World Expo, our conversation and our connections were immediately formed over their iPhones. We chatted over their cool personalized displays, got hooked up on Twitter, and engaged in a longer, richer conversation, in part because the iPhone created and enabled the conversation beyond the first meeting.
Our final true a-ha moment came when attending a social event with friends. Avery and I had an illuminating conversation with friend and extraordinary photographer, Colin Vincent. In catching up with him, our conversation centered around his recent portfolio of stunning images -- all dynamically and seamless presented on his iPhone.
That conversation truly manifested itself as the "a-ha" moment. It became clear to me that the iPhone is adding dimension to our day-to-day conversation and even enriching the capacity to communicate one-on-one or one-to-many. Beyond what you would expect out of a leading edge Internet-enabled phone, the iPhone goes one "leap" further and enables conversation by adding to the spoken word and contributing to storytelling creating new dimension and detail (images, video, web assets, etc.) not typically a part of ordinary conversation.
Maybe this is all very obvious and the "Wow" factor was really all about the fundamental impact the iPhone was about to have in human behavior and interpersonal communication. This "Wow" factor hit me the first time I saw it over coffee and it continues as I see how the device itself is truly a communication enabler -- beyond the phone.
What do you think?
When you think of the iPhone as a communication enabler, is it more than just a phone to you on an interpersonal level? Does it enrich your level of communication with others in person (without using the phone to communicate)? Do you find it helps convey thoughts, meaning, or understanding when you speak with friends, colleagues - or helping someone with directions?
What does the iPhone mean to you?
Special thanks to Calvina Photography, another amazing and creative photographer, who can accurately capture my thoughts and vision. Her photograph here was taken to conceptualize this post.
Her picture tells what took me 1000 words! Thanks @Calvina! You're brilliant!
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