Technology, Simplicity, and Tradeoffs

Most of the time I try to fill Tech Tip Tuesdays with… tech tips (brilliant observation, I know). But I just didn’t have the motivation for another tech tip tonight. Since blogging is all about being real and authentic, this post will be just be my current musings on how simplicity and technology interact. So bear with me.

You constantly hear about simplicity giving you freedom, and rightfully so. But there’s a flip side that most people don’t like to talk about, because it’s not as trendy: it actually takes away some freedom.

A perfect example is the iPad. I told you all back in the post on scanning my books that I was going to buy an iPad. While I’m still waiting to buy it, I have taken some time at our local Mac store to test it. Every time I’m more convinced that it will revolutionize the mobile computing industry, mainly because it’s just preposterously simple to use. A toddler who can barely talk can turn it on, find her app, and do a puzzle, and a 99 year old lady can still write funny limericks on it. The simple design and interface gives you the freedom to read books, interact with the internet, and use apps in an entirely new, more intuitive and productive way.

But the simplicity which makes it an game-changing product also takes away some other freedom as well. For instance, you can’t replace the battery yourself, hook up your external hard drive, play Flash games, or manipulate the file structure of the iPad. So you gain a product that’s intuitive and simple, but you loose the ability to do certain (generally techy) things.

And that’s okay.

The principles of simplicity are the same no matter what the subject you apply them to. If you’re decluttering your closet, you gain simplicity but loose the freedom to wear certain clothes. If you rip all your CDs and sell them at a garage sale, you no longer have the option of popping your favorite in the CD player on a trip. Everything is a tradeoff – one kind of freedom for another.

The challenge for all of us is to know how to find the equilibrium of simplicity and options… and that will be different for every person. What we would argue for, especially related to technology, is to err on the side of simplicity. Most people will buy and use products that are much more complex than they need, simply because “they might need it some day.” (which, incidentally, is the same argument most people use for keeping piles of useless crap around the house)

If you can use a more simple solution, do so. You’ll thank yourself later. If you absolutely need more options, at least hide them so they’re not cluttering your screen. Just don’t let the paralysis of “I might need it someday” keep your physical or digital life cluttered anymore.