The Future of Computing

On January 9, 2007, Apple unveiled the future of computing, in the form of a phone.

Whether or not you hate the iPhone, it is hard to deny, it changed things. It changed how everything works. No bulky file systems, no task manager, just touch. Touch, and the phone does. No defragmenting to worry about, no file organization to worry about. Just…just…touch…

Our current desktops have file systems, task managers, Application folders, and lots of things that the average user (aka "The rest of us") doesn't understand. I have met some people that have used a Mac for years, and still doesn't know how to distinguish between a file and a folder, and had every single one of their files on their desktop. On the other hand, I've seen a 2 year old use an iPhone. The UI is so easy and simple, that there's nothing to worry about. You just DO! And that, my readers, is the future of computing. With the expansion of the app store, the iPad and iPhone will start to replace desktops and laptops. In fact, I believe Mac OS 11 will be a fully touch OS, with the option to add a physical keyboard, like the iPad and mouse. Nobody will have to worry about file systems. You open your word processing app, see a list of all your documents, tap on one, and start working on it. You don't have to search the drive, and you don't have to search the file system. Each app has a list of all the documents you're working on, and they're right there… Every file is stored within the app. And, this is so expandable! For instance, Apple could release Final Cut, or iMovie for the iPhone OS! Just imagine editing the clips on an iPad with your hands! It would be so easy, and such a pleasure. This is what I believe will make its way into OS 11. You'll get access to a file system through a developer menu for advanced users, but otherwise, the average user will have absolutely nothing to worry about. Absolutely nothing to think about. 

Let me show you an example. I'm going to compare phone to phone, because phone to computer would pose more variable to analyze. Below are pictures of the iPhone and a Windows mobile phone.

 The WinMo phone requires you to eliminate background processes with a task manager. So, you have to scroll through the long list of tiny, obscure words, and guess which one will end the runaway process. But, careful; don't kill a vital process, or you may, irreparably crash your phone.

But iPhone users don't have to worry about this at all! There is no task manager; nothing that resembles a conventional computer that could completely confound the average user. It just works, and that was what the Macintosh did in 1984. It made things easier.

Well, the iPhone took it to the next level. And we are on a road to change. I can't wait to see where it'll lead.