Convergence and Divergence
On the one hand,
the smartphone has become that all-in-one, Swiss army knife kind of device. It
has a calendar, camera, music player, compass...and oh yeah, it can also be
used to make calls!
That's
convergence for you.
On the other
hand, there's the PC/laptop whose functionality split into multiple devices,
each dedicated for just one purpose. So there's the Kindle for reading; iPad
for playing games and surfing; smart TV for watching movies and so on.
That's
divergence.
These trends
seem strange at first...since they are the opposites of each other. Until, that
is, someone tells you the pattern behind what diverges and what converges.
Here's how Ben Thompson put it:
“The divergent effects of the iPhone and
iPad make total sense when looked at from a human-centered perspective. The
phone is often the only device you have when out-and-about, so the more capable
the better; the iPad is usually used when stationary, when it’s more
conceivable to have multiple devices at hand...And, if one has a choice, why
wouldn’t one want to use the best possible tool for the job?”
Seems kind of
obvious when someone puts it like that, doesn’t it?
So these devices are not only instrumental in aiding in want we wish to do, but also helpful in spending some time in analyzing why their application ways converge or diverge. :-)
ReplyDeleteThere was a time when in India you don't discuss advantages and limitations of the products you wish to buy. You book for the only 'good' product/service available such as a car, or watch, or scooter, or (can you believe this) a fridge, telephone connection... and wait. And then wait some more!
Further to analysis, I would say, these days, the designers get the advantage of feedback from the users real quick. Maybe not feedback really but 'sensing' of the buyers' mood. Newer products surfacing with better features or methods is no surprise.