Tool/Gadget Convergence In My Life
Why I don't have full pockets. Photo by Terry Johnston via Flickr
Over the years I’ve listened to so many tech pundits talking about how people don’t want converged devices. Then more and more devices converged. Once again tech pundits said that only tech enthusiasts would be interested in converged devices. These days mainstream consumers are embracing converged devices and it only looks like that trend is going to continue.
So, today I decided to list the progression of tools that I have used for different tasks during my work career. I’m going to leave out computers and be purposely vague about mobile phones though because honestly I can’t remember all the different models of each I have used over the years. My lists run from 1998 through today.
Mobile Phone
- Free Motorola brick (Sprint)
- Free Nokia candybar (Sprint)
- Free LG flip (Sprint)
- $49 Samsung flip (Sprint)
- $299 16GB iPhone 3G (AT&T)
Portable Music Player
- Sony Walkman (Tape)
- Sony Discman (CD)
- Rio Volt (Mp3 capable CD player)
- 20GB 3rd Gen iPod
- 16GB iPhone 3G
Organizer & Address Book
- Paper Address Book & Paper
- Day Runner
- Palm IIIx
- 20GB 3rd Gen iPod
- 16GB iPhone 3G
Maps
- AAA Maps
- 16GB iPhone 3G
Pocket Camera
- Cheap Point & Shoot (film)
- Slightly better point & shoot (film)
- 2MP Canon Digital Elph (digital)
- 16GB iPhone 3G (digital)
Calculator
- Solar Calculator in Day Runner
- Palm IIIx
- 16GB iPhone 3G
Shopping List
- Day Runner
- Palm IIIx
- 16GB iPhone 3G
Pocket Video
- Flip Ultra HD (Not an iPhone)
Many of the tasks that I carried paper or gadgets around for over the years, converged in one device: the 16GB iPhone 3G. Convergence was natural for me. I had no desire to schlep multiple tools around to get my daily tasks done. In the days of my Day Runner, I carried 5 items. In the days of my Palm IIIx, (which I still have) it was still 5, but at the Palm was more compact, backed up to my PC and had many added features. Now, I’m down to 2 items, but I’ve added video to my necessary functions.
While my iPhone was a huge step in the right direction, it’s not perfect. I use my iPhone for maps, but I also keep maps in the glove box in case GPS or data service is not reliable or the map software is incorrect. And as for my camera needs, I have a much better (but now very old) 8 MP Konica Minolta that I use when I want higher quality photos.
Now I’m wondering what the next stage in my tech convergence and evolution will be? Will I just get a new iPhone? Or will a tablet or some other device take its place? One thing that I know is that I’m not looking to go back to multiple single use tools that I need a bag or lots of pockets to hold.
Where are you when it comes to converged devices? Please chime in on the poll below:
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I tend to be a bit of a consolidation nerd. I love getting multiple functions out of one device. I’m now using my iPhone as a kitchen timer. Didn’t even know I could do that but there’s a countdown timer in the clock app. I do also take a lot of photos with the iPhone, but I wouldn’t give up my Olympus digital camera. It’s still a better device for picture taking, and sometimes the iPhone’s camera won’t do. Also, as I have an iPhone 3G, my iPhone isn’t capable of recording video. I wouldn’t mind having a new portable camcorder. My current camcorder doesn’t work so well anymore. I can record video with the Olympus digital camera but the built-in mic isn’t so great.