Last week I listened to an interview Steve Jobs did with National
Public Radio (NPR) a few years ago. Jobs discussed how he strived to add “liberal
arts” to computers. Thinking back to
his early years, he said how computer engineers looked at the potential for
improved computer graphics as a way to produce better charts, but he viewed it
as a way to better present art. Improved
fonts would enable scientists to use super and subscript when displaying
formulas, but Jobs sought them in order to add beauty to the screen with serif
typefaces.
Where others were able to design better interfaces between
us and our task, Jobs designs had the knack of allowing us to focus on the
task, and the interface became secondary.
And so many of his interface innovations, like the iPad finger swipes
and pinching, seen so obvious to us now.
But where were they before Apple brought them to us? Tablet computing had been floundering for
years while struggling with interface issues, but the iPad helped it take off.
As I try to glean some lessons from the genius of Steve Jobs
to apply to my own life, I’m left with two observations. First, when problem solving he seemed to define
a larger vision then others dared to see.
And second, simplicity was good.
He reduced the original mouse device from 3 buttons to one, and removed
the mouse altogether on the iPad/iPhone.
In your practice, can you think of a problem which might benefit
from a larger vision? Or an issue where
simplicity can make it better?
Straight ahead,
Bob
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