Are smartphones really “smart” or are people really dumb? It’s a question I ask myself everytime I look at smart phones.

Portable devices are not meant to be portable computers. Modern desktop computers often function in a non-user friendly kind of way. Which is why people ask questions when they’re using the computer if they don’t understand how to do something. “There’s no such thing as stupid questions, only stupid people”, the saying goes. But when it comes to technology, it’s usually the implementation of it that’s stupid.

I’ve been known to complain about Microsoft, and I have good reason. I’ve used Windows since 3.1 but more frequently since 95. What year is it? 2010? Gee, then why is Windows 7 still not that different than its ancestor? Sure many things have changed stylistically, most of the back end, and a few functions. But isn’t it time to forget old practices and move on with the times? This is where smartphones come in.

A smartphone doesn’t look like a conventional phone especially if it has a touchscreen, but you still know it’s a phone because it’s usually sold by a mobile carrier and/or made by a company that makes mobile phones. So when a person buys a mobile phone, they expect it to make/receive calls and other nifty things like customize ringtones and wallpaper. It’s not a computer, it’s a phone. Changing things on a phone shouldn’t be complicated. Usually there’s a settings menu and everything should be straightforward, but sometimes it’s not. That’s a problem that many people face and it shouldn’t be that way. You’re not supposed to figure out how a phone works, there are certain things that should be fundamental. Every phone making company/software engineer has their own style of designing the interface, that’s understandable because that’s what makes them standout. But it bothers me that basic features more often than not, aren’t that basic from phone to phone. A great example is switching from a Motorola phone to a Nokia or a Kyocera to a Blackberry. There are certain things on a phone that are essential that shouldn’t require a learning curve. That’s what the manual is for but a good product is one that requires less reading due to its ease of use. Who reads instructions for a blender? They all have the same function. It shouldn’t be complicated changing a ringtone, adding a contact, sending a photo, customizing phone settings, etc. on any phone.

What’s wrong with software engineers and phone companies? Technology is supposed to make life easier, yet somehow that concept is hard to grasp when I find myself struggling with a device and I’m not technology challenged. Just because there’s a standard of how technology is consumed doesn’t mean it’s the right way. Example: the iPod changed the way people listen to music because it has a simple design and it organizes music in a clean fashion, making it easy to navigate through 5 songs or a 1,000. Of course iTunes is a whole different story. But the iPod wasn’t the first mp3 player out in the market, most before it just let you add files and you had to create the folders yourself, and few had a graphical interface, etc. Apple did something smart and the world embraced it. Desktop computers and phones still have a long way to go.

Nobody should have to navigate through menus to get a task done. I’m not a developer but I know that there are easier ways to implement technology that benefit both the end user and the team behind the software. Usually it’s lack of common sense. Wouldn’t it be ridiculous if you had to go through 3 menus just to change the channel on your TV? Think about it, software and phone companies truly need to look at their products and say out loud “Is there a better way to do this?” I know there is. Better usually doesn’t equal easier, but if the current formula doesn’t work, it’s time to go back to the blackboard and start from scratch.
Phone reps are trained to sell products according to consumer experience with technology and often offer tutorials. This wouldn’t be necessary if phones were user friendly from the start. Same thing applies to computers. It’s time for computers to be more like phones and phones to be less like computers. I’m not saying the lines should be blurred, it’s just a matter of discarding antique practices of using/making electronic devices. It doesn’t make sense to hide features in menus, navigating until the destination is found. Adults aren’t children but ease of use is key. I wouldn’t mind using a phone or computer that looks like a 2 year old could use it. Look at Sugar OS, iPhone, and Android, simple and easy but not quite there. Same with other UIs and OSs. It’s really disappointing. It’s not about dumbing things down, it’s making things more practical.

I should get hired by any of the companies that apply to this post. I’d probably make a difference for the better if my suggestions were taken into consideration. Ne?