The iPad: A 2.5 Year Old and Me
April 8, 2010 - By Bobby Solomon - Category: Apple & VideoI had to post this video simply because it brings to mind so many ideas of the future to me. What we have is the 2.5 year old daughter of Laughing Squid writer Todd Lapin using an iPad for the first time… and completely understanding how to use it. In my mind I can’t imagine a better way of defining whether a device is successful. The idea that a toddler, who most definitely has already mastered an iPhone, can then in turn already know how to use an iPad is pretty phenomenal in my opinion.
I still haven’t currently bought an iPad, though I’ve had several chances to try them out, a lot of my co-workers at MySpace have them. What I’ve come to realize is that the iPad is a device meant mainly for consumption, much like a television or even a radio. The emphasis on that sentence is mainly, because obviously Apple has given you options like Words and Numbers for you to be able to create on it, but I feel like those are secondary programs, and I think Apple feels that way as well, since you have to buy them from the App Store.
I think the main point of this to device is to browse the web, watch movies, listen to music and play games… consumption. In turn, trying to create on a device like this is an entirely different, and I believe, a somewhat difficult experience, at least out of the gate so far. I equate this to my personal needs, mostly. I would love to be able to do all of my blogging from this magical device, but unfortunately, I think it would be quite difficult to edit and crop photos and then upload them to my server. Then to actually write out posts (without the aid of a physical keyboard) would also be difficult, or at the very least, not as easy as it would be “normally”.
All that being said, I think as long as you know what you’re getting into, that it’s more like a television, not your laptop, then you should be good. Will I be getting an iPad? Yes, I think will be. Will I also be purchasing a laptop to work from? Absolutely. But my thoughts drift to the future of a generation of kids who won’t be using mice to navigate a screen, where the world is at their fingertips. You know where this is leading us, right? Straight into something out of Minority Report.
When Steven Spielberg made Minority Report he hired a team of futurists to create a realistic vision of the future based upon current technologies and the paths they’re heading down.The computer system that Tom Cruise uses in the movie is entirely gestural, working on a large, ethereal screen where he moved around large chunks of information. There are already prototypes of these kinds of systems floating around, but they really have no foot in reality quite yet. But I feel like the iPad is a step in that direction, though eventually even having a touch screen will begin to feel outdated.
I know a lot of you aren’t big fans of Apple and like to cluster me in the pile of fanboys, but I think that’s a biased opinion. In my opinion, Apple is the only computer company in the world truly innovating in every way. Sure, there are companies all over the world creating similar devices, but why aren’t people lining up around the block for their products? And please don’t say that Apple has good marketing, that’s a weak excuse. Advertising and marketing is a part of business, and if you can’t keep up in that way then how the hell are you ever going to sell anything?
Final thing, if you agree or disagree with me and want to leave a comment, just be sure to be coherent and respectful. I’d rather have a conversation then have to delete people.
Bobby
Comments
If you've got something to say, keep it positive.Have you seen what Jim Lee came up with while playing with his iPad?
@Dave Randomly enough I actually did. You’re talking about the Catwoman sketch, right? I’m just curious what the output size is on something like that though, like could DC print that as a cover? Good example of creation.
I had the opportunity to play with a friend’s iPad the other night at a group dinner. While obviously slick (and I would certainly welcome a free one) it seemed more like cool a toy than something I would regularly use, and work on, daily. But I guess that is the point—a device to consume media.
Apple innovates, I’m appreciative of it. Still, the little decisions they make for the sake of propietary annoy the hell out of me. Flash is a huge part of my internet experience. I cannot possibly purchase a device designed to be my “laptop lite” and it not have flash capabilities.
One of the biggest foibles of Apple is iTunes. It blows me away how unintuitive and obtuse this program is. I cannot believe this is a cornerstone product from a company that prides itself on logical usability, innovative niche-creation, and an impeccable sense of detail.
Also, I am not really that impressed by this video. I don’t really get the sense that the child is learning how to interact with the device. She only seems to make the most basic assumptions of the device’s behavior. What I see is a kid randomly pressing on items, and then being able to interact with the simple software subsequently. This reads as if I’m not impressed with the child instead of the OS, and maybe that is the case. But I don’t see this video and think, “Wow, Apple is so transcendent.” I guess ease-of-use is on display, and that should be lauded.
She does know how to press a specific button to get out of what she is doing and how to get to icons that are not present on the current screen. Maybe I’m selling this device short.
I completely agree with everything you wrote. I’ve had my iPad for a few days now and, although I love it, it’s not really necessary. It’s unfortunate that you suddenly take for granted the little things like chats and certain video. I find the word press app completely useless since I can’t upload music or view the images I wish to post, but I feel like there’s a promise further down the road. Also, I feel like I’m 5 typing this when it would take half the time to type it on a real keyboard. It’s a great tool to conceptualize ideas, but it’s frustrating to not even have a chance to draft them out. All in all I’m hoping for progress, but you are right, it’s totally for consuming. That video is great though, I flinched a few times seeing how hard she pushed on the screen, but I almost cried when I saw that ‘will it blend’ video. That iPad he smashed could’ve been yours!
@Dr. Oh No – I think from a business perspective what they’re doing makes sense, and I think John Gruber does a pretty job of explaining their reasoning:
http://daringfireball.net/2010/04/why_apple_changed_section_331
As for iTunes I don’t really see what the problem is. I have one current beef, and that’s that I can’t make a folder for all of my playlists. Other then that it plays music and does what it needs to do, so I have no qualms, personally.
I think a lot of people, though they may say they ‘don’t like’ the iPad, would totally get one if they had the chance or the money. I mean really, look at it – how could you not think it’s cool, even if you wouldn’t use it everyday? I’d love to have one! That video is very cool, too. My little cousin loves to play with my iPod touch and it’s amazing how he reacts to it and remembers what he sees on it.
Interesting. I was wondering about how the iPad would affect the slew of creatives who depend on macs to survive. Thanks for confirming my suspicions – it’s quite difficult to wrap my brain around building prototypes on an iPhone user model. It’s been a bit abuzz with my peers too, the game developer types are quite excited about the prospects of developing mobile games to this particular scale, but yeah, it is pretty cool from the receiving end, not so much on the making-apps-for-it-by-using-it end.
I *also* agree on the weak excuses of the Apple-bash parade. A bad product with good marketing is still a bad product, but a great product with great marketing is something else altogether.
For someone who has little experience with the program, its quite difficult to get to behave in a specific way other than the default. For example, if you have a mixtape, and iTunes decides to organize it as two separate tapes, it becomes a hassle to combine these two. This task should be super simple (drag and drop), and for some reason it is not. The reorganizing that iTunes so eagerly wants to do for you is a bitch, but at least that can be turned off. I’ve had several relatives complain that their files are missing or mislabeled because of this behavior. I just feel that Apple, in its eagerness to make an intuitive music player, made some poor decisions that consumers would rather not have to deal with.
The most awkward aspect of the program is when it is trying to function as a music player and iPod/iPhone manager. I periodically find myself just stumped at why I have do certain things to elicit simple outcomes. I’ve come to the conclusion that the ideal solution is two pieces of software. A robust music player separate from a light and easy to use peripheral manager. Thankfully, these two pieces of software exist in many forms and combinations.
I’ve figured out why that video isn’t that impressive to me. I remember seeing my nephew get on a Windows XP desktop and use a mouse to accomplish specific tasks. He knew that “X” meant to close a program as well. He pretty much did the same thing this girl did, only with a mouse and a Microsoft product. The take-away, for me at least, is that 2-3 year olds can interact with objects and make simple inferences and assumptions based on the behavior of that object.
Well, the saddest combo is a good product with bad marketing. Palm’s WebOS looked so promising, but they bombed with their marketing and failed to realize that App support is the biggest determinant for current consumers. Now there are locked in a death spiral. Less costumers, less support, less apps, less costumers. Bankruptcy or buyout on the horizon for them, methinks.
You do make a valid point with the ipad being meant for consumption and not to create projects.
I think the ipad would be a great replacement for educational textbooks if the screen wasn’t harsh on the eyes, although, this will put many publishing companies out of business. It would also be great as a cookbook or a child’s (expensive) toy.
When I use a computer (the majority of the time on a desk), it is easier for my neck to view the screen at a 100 degree angle to the desk. Call me lazy but it is easier to use a mouse to navigate a screen (although it would be nice to have a multi-touch option and the option would provide excellent exercise for the arms).
From my perspective, Steve Jobs (Big Brother) and the majority of Apple users seem to have egos as large as their wallets by denying that a Macintosh is comparable to a personal computer (marketing strategy, to give their users the idea that their products are “different”). Also, by parting ways with three tech giants: Google, Intel, and Adobe. It is almost as if Intel’s processor chips and Adobe’s flash is not good enough (but then again, not having these two would increase battery life).
Don’t get me wrong. Apple makes great products such as the ipod classic (their greatest product simply because it did what it did best, play music and videos), iphone, powerbook g4, imac, all of the software, and the bells and whistles (spaces is genius) but they’re just not THAT different from other computers other than the operating system’s name.
Have you seen this? http://www.ted.com/talks/view/id/685
It was only the other day my 3 year old daughter was showing my 60 year old mum how to navigate around the iPhone as she (my mum that is) was unfamiliar with the interface so didn’t know how to get into the game apps.
Now this might be due in part to this being all my daughter has know as she has grown up (well to the age of 3 at least) around iPods and iPhones but I cant help but feel how much of a testament it is to the interface designers of the iPhone/iPod touch that have developed this way of navigating that is so much more intrinsic than much that came before it and so I’m excited to see her interacting with websites on the larger iPad platform.
Beyond the interface, the apps and iBooks area really sing to me.
But I don’t understand the logic in not having a CD drive. What do I do with the mass of CD’s in my rack on the wall? If I didn’t already own a laptop how do I get them into my iTunes library? (am i missing something here?) And the same goes for the lack of DVD drive? All those DVDs in my cabinet, are Apple suggesting I bin them all in favour of downloads because after spending close to £500 I’d be reluctant to shell out for an external drive!
But the biggest flaw arrives for me goes back to my original point in complimenting the interface and the intrinsic nature. Such a huge percentage of the websites my daughter (and in general to be fair) would be looking at at the moment are heavily flash based and without flash viewing capabilities I simply don’t understand the claim to be the future of web surfing?
All in all I commend Apple for opening up the floodgates and introducing the idea of tablet/touch based navigation devices to the mainstream but I for one will be holding out for iPad v2 when they’ve had a chance to hear the feedback.
@Phillip Interesting concept. Projector technology seems to be a harsh limiting factor though.
My first thought watching the video was how quickly the girl moved from one activity to another. I know there’s nothing unusuasl about a short attention span, but it scares me that the UI ease of use will create enhanced ADD. God knows I’m already suffering between you tube, twitter, iphone apps and so on.
@ITSNOTACABARET – Dude, she’s two and half years old, have you never seen one before? ; )
Brilliant find and nice post.
I think Apple is the most human friendly tech company out there. They promote, education, personalization, creativity, music, design, structure, the environment, innovation, play, the big picture and more.
I’ve been using their products for 24 years. My mom insisted on having a apple II in the house. Now I use apple products in my professional environment and home life. Sure they could improve little but so could every major car company and political party.
What this video and post comments do best is show how intuitive very young kids are and how narrow minded we become as adults.
Im mean come on this is the same company that did this.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tvvork/sets/72157594507405239/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/tvvork/373825015/in/set-72157594507405239/
I think Apple’s strength is not in innovation, but in refinement. I would struggle to say that they are innovating at all, with the iPad– but that’s not a bad thing. Tablets have been around for years, but they’ve been clunky, and not at all finger friendly. Apple took the idea, refined it to a thin piece of pure industrial design, and threw on a time-tested OS that is obviously easy to use (hence, the video).
The same goes for any of their computers, really. If my MacBook Pro died today, I’d go get another one, even though I can get a way better specced laptop from Asus or HP for even less money. They’d have Core 2010 processors, better graphics, the whole bit. But they wouldn’t have the build quality of the MBP line or the effortless operating system.
I think it’s a bit wrong to laud Apple for “truly innovating in every way.” What they’re best at is distilling the essence of other companies’ innovations into electronic works of art that anyone can use. I suppose that can be called innovation, but I think of it as refinement. Focussed and brilliant refinement. That doesn’t make them any less of a company; in fact, as an artistic perfectionist, I prefer their strategy of relentless attention to detail and usability.
I still don’t like the way the iPhone OS looks blown up to that scale, which I think is really the only thing holding me back from buying one. Apple obviously has the market cornered in hardware design, I just wish they’d do something about that awkwardly widely-spaced grid of icons, on the software side. What works at 3.5 inches just looks strange at 9.7. Once the iPad OS is refined/differentiated from the standard iPhone OS more (it feels a bit unfinished still, to me), and the content really explodes for it, Apple will have me adding a sixth item of their manufacture to my collection.
@ITSNOTCABARET
I think every generation worries about the next. If everything my parents worried about became true, I’d be blind, sterile, and have arthritis by now. Our parents should also be dead from all that TV gamma radiation.
I do think you’re right though. The fact that we have everything at our fingertips anywhere now, has made people incredibly inpatient. I’m sure if you told plenty of people to disconnect for a week, they’d throw a fit. Who knows how this will effect kids today.
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On the topic of the iPad, I feel its the first computer in a long time that had caused a generational shift. Probably the first since Windows 95, which is interesting to say the least. Computers very well could be heading in two directions again. The iPad like devices for the everyman, and the traditional computer for the person that uses it for their work.
I think what Apple has done here is break down computing into two separate demographics: Consumption and Creation.
You don’t buy an iPad to build an excel spreadsheet, or design a website, but to read the news, watch a movie. You’re also certainly not going to learn about personal computing by using one. (You can’t even change the battery without Apple doing it for you.)
Which is what I find so troubling about this post.
I feel a primary reason the internet and technology have grown at such an exponential rate is related to all the 12 year old’s taking apart Apple II E’s and grinding away at DOS in the 80′s and 90′s.
A child today isn’t going to learn why or how something works by using such technology as the iPAD, only that it does.
@ Alphonse
I think we typed these simultaneously!
Lol – Time magazine?
I agree with your opinion of the iPad, just as I agreed with Lev Grossman when I read his piece for Time. ;)
Bobby, I do agree with your opinion here- there is something amazing about a device that is so intuitive that someone with no computing experience can totally interact with it and immerse themselves in it. However, I do think that with the help of devs (I’m looking at you, Adobe and WordPress…Aperture would be pretty awesome too) that iPad could soon become a viable alternative to, say, a laptop or desktop computer for creative purposes. The idea of actually touching to draw and illustrate, or using multi-touch to apply filters and gradients is just too rad for words. I might be living in a daydream here though, so let’s just hope that iPad does get some kind of Photoshop that is a cut above the incredibly watered down (thats an overstatement, it literally is pointless) version on iPhone.
As for the old ‘apple fanboy’ argument, it’s basically a myth. Ok, there may be some people who buy everything Apple without even thinking about checking out product specs or whatever, but honestly, the whole point with Apple is that you don’t need to. People wouldn’t buy their stuff if a) It didn’t work so well or b) It didn’t look so cool. The kind of people complaining about iPad seem to be Open-Source addicts who believe that using a computer just consists of tinkering the hell out of it. I don’t care if a computer or smartphone has a fast processor, I just want it to work, out of the box, without me having to read instructions. We shouldn’t have to learn to use computers since their purpose is to make life easier for us, it defeats the point of them if we end up calling Tech Repair and tearing our hair out because of ‘Error_524′ (I’m looking at YOU, Windows Vista).
Despite all of this, I don’t own an iPad yet, mostly due to a lack of cash. Otherwise I’d snap one right up.