Everyday I come across so many people with great ideas. But when ideas transform into living and breathing solutions, they become something else. They do not solve the problem they were supposed to solve in the first place. The solution is no doubt fancy. It is also very complex. It also tries to solve "other" problems.
Do we care about "fancy"? No.
Do we care about complexity? Heck no.
Do we care about those "other" problems? Maybe. But I am happy if it solves the problem it was supposed to solve.
So why is it that when an idea transforms into a solution, all the above noise takes precedence over simplicity and ease of use?
Take the case of iPhone. If someone asked you why Apple iPhone is so hugely popular with the masses, what would be your answer?
My answer is simply - "What you see is what you get"
It is an unbelievably simple answer. An iPhone's popularity lies in its inherent ability to abstract away the complexity from the end user. As an end user I don't care if you used the most complex software stack or used an extremely powerful microprocessor chip. All I see is a phone that works for my main functions - making calls, receiving calls, managing contacts, browsing the Internet, streaming and downloading videos/photos/music, chatting and playing games.
So why is it important that you use an iPhone over other phones (aka why do you become that obsessed Apple iPhone fanboy?). Because Apple connects "emotionally" with people. And simplicity paves that way to emotional connection.
- Because things work at the touch/swipe of your finger (A seamless and smooth user experience with touch gestures. Seems like magic to me). That's how humans function..they use their hands and their sense of touch. And an iPhone picks on that.
- Because it is addictive. The app store is one of the biggest innovations of Apple. It is the platform, stupid! It is all about building a platform and exposing its API to developers who will build tools over it to extend its richness. Apple does nothing but cherry pick some of those apps for you. And the results are amazing for you to see, use and reuse and reuse...till you get to the point of addiction.
- Because lesser choices is a good thing. iPhone's minimalist physical interface works like a charm. It's a human psychology that given too many choices, humans are paralyzed and choose nothing. Given lesser choices, you are bound to be happier and make a choice.
- Because it is a thing of beauty. Period. And who doesn't like a thing of beauty? When you hold an iPhone in your hand, the first thing you look at is the pristine white color or the clean looking homepage. Do you know what effect it has on your human mind? (Not kidding here.) Human minds hate clutter. They despise harsh colors..
Steve Jobs wasn't an idiot when he talked about broadening one's understanding of human experiences to construct better designs. He didn't think he was merely building a fancy phone. He thought of it as the world's first "simplest" smartphone (ironical how simple and smart goes in the same line:) Which goes to say that simple things can be smart.)
So next time someone asks you to build something, think about it passionately. Try to solve the problem in the simplest possible human way.
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