Design thinking

The author reflects on the evolution of mobile phones through a conversation with her husband, who is currently struggling to find an impressive new device. They reminisce about early models like the Nokia 1100 and 6600, noting how phones once possessed distinct personalities and unique features like joysticks or flip mechanisms.

The narrative traces the transition from the painstaking process of T9 texting to the convenience of QWERTY keyboards, stylus-equipped devices, and the eventual rise of smartphones. The author observes that while modern smartphones are extraordinarily capable, they have become uniform in design, leading to a sense of saturation where novelty is elusive.

The piece concludes that because today's devices can seemingly perform almost every task, the sense of wonder once associated with technological advancements has largely faded among users.