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WebWord Weblog Posting Posting Date: April 03, 2003 Social Mobiles (ideo.com) -- "The user knocks on this phone to communicate the urgency of their call. The recepient hears this knock through their phone and can be discerning about which calls they answer."
Reader Comments...
Most users believe every call they make is important, that's the problem. Putting a distinctive ring/vibrate/knock will probably work, the first few times. Then, gradually, urgency inflation sets in. Posted by: on April 3, 2003 01:12 PM
Several years ago IDEO put out a prototype Kiss Communicator. Couples snap it apart, each taking half, and use it to send a kiss. Posted by: on April 3, 2003 01:24 PM
My favorite is the Knocking Mobile, because you could tell close friends and family a distinctive knock they could use. The shave and a haircut pattern is the most well-known--maybe too well known. Posted by: on April 3, 2003 05:53 PM
The main issue with mobility I see is if you dont want to be contacted. Some people can get really offended if you have your mobile off or if its on a divert. There was a time when people did not have to be contactable all the time, and think it will be interesting to see (with converged communications, internet and telco) how this can be managed better. Where people can somehow have a rest from the comms. and pick it up at a time that suits them. Posted by: daniel szuc on April 3, 2003 09:31 PM
"Some people can get really offended" Exactly, accees as status. First you can create a series of distinctive tones on the touchpad, no need to knock a code. Second, there is a missing social component, the people around those talking. Mostly the people in the conversation are oblivious, and it is the people around them disturbed by the call. What IDEO needs is the "dirty glare" phone. Posted by: on April 4, 2003 08:19 AM
Ah, but what's urgent for you may not be urgent for me. ;) Posted by: MadMan on April 4, 2003 04:58 PM
Daniel, that is an interesting statement (about offense) because I have noticed the same thing. I have a mobile, but it is off most of the time - I only turn it on when I'm in the car driving or I need to make a call. I figure it has voice mail and is on at least twice a day, so I'll get any important messages. Otherwise, the people I want to be able to contact me have my work number and e-mail, so it should be no big deal, but I am constantly teased. Meanwhile, I'm annoyed by a guy in our office who is attached to his as if by umbillicus - if a call comes in he'll just stop talking to you and answer it. Whenever he does that I just walk away, since he's obviously done talking with me. It really irritates him (ha ha). Posted by: Lydia on April 4, 2003 08:10 PM
Same thing in Hong Kong and it took me some time to get used to. It's quite common for people to leave their mobile on during meetings or even if they are already on other phone conference calls. Seems strange right? You may be in mid conversation with a person and they will take the call OR you will be a meeting and you will hear phones going off left and right. My *personal* choice is to put the mobile on vibrate or divert to the office when I am in a meeting. My rule is if I am with *that* person, I am devoting my attention to that moment and everything else can wait until this moment is finished *ooops there goes my phone ... * :) Posted by: daniel szuc on April 4, 2003 08:54 PM
Lydia, on another topic, you said you'd email me Joel's article on building communities (the one he sent by email.) Could you please do that? I don't have your email so I had to post a message here. Apologies for wasted bandwidth. Posted by: MadMan on April 4, 2003 11:49 PM
Point (former boss) Counterpoint:
The article(s) are timely. What nobody mentioned is the commercial cell phone just recently celebrated their 30-year anniversary. links: Cell Phone Designer Reflects on 30th Anniversary CNN Anniversary piece
Sorry, MadMan, no can do. I did send it to you earlier (at the email address you have on your website), but I have since deleted Joel's email. :( Daniel, I like your policy. I'm not sure why the idea of suddenly taking a call in the middle of another conversation wouldn't stand out as being obviously rude, but it seems to be pretty common. Go figure. Posted by: Lydia on April 7, 2003 01:20 PM
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