We continually see things that would never have been possible just a few years ago. We rarely stop to even notice…

A few days ago I was sitting at a coffee shop with some friends, and to the right and behind me a rather hassled young mother hurridly put an iPad in front of her two toddlers, who were sitting grouchily in their double push chair. The toddler to the right had the iPad on her lap, and her twin brother (both were no more than 12 months old) was bawling his eyes out. The sister immediately started swiping at the game, and the brother stopped crying and watched intently.

Immediate. Instinctive. Bam!

I almost dropped my cup and saucer. Those at the table had caught this too. Not only the fact that the mother had the iPad to shove in front of the screaming duo, but the fact they both tuned in, knew what to do and were at peace.

The iPad 3 comes out next week, and the whole product category is not yet two years old. When a new device can be used so naturally by 1 year olds, you know it’s been built to perfection. No instructions, just instinct. An extension of the human brain. A natural plugin.

Incredible. Makes me feel very humble and worthless, as we struggle to improve the user experience of the online systems and sites we develop daily. As Apple say “simplicity is the ultimate sophistication“.

Oh, and by the way, there is a Blog (Babies with iPads) dedicated to this subject… of course.

About the author

20+ years in Perth’s business, tech, media and startup sectors, from founder through to exit, as CEO, mentor, advisor / investor, and in federal and state government. Originally an economics teacher from the UK, working in Singapore before arriving in Perth in 1997 to do an MBA at UWA. Graduating as top student in 1999, Charlie co-founded aussiehome.com, running it for 10+ years before selling to REIWA, to run reiwa.com. In 2013, moved to Business News, became CEO, then worked on the Australian government’s Accelerating Commercialisation program. In 2021, helped set up and launch The Property Tribune, and was awarded the Pearcey WA Entrepreneur of the Year (at the 30th Incite Awards). In 2022, he became Director Innovation, running the 'New Industries Fund' at the Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation (JTSI).

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2 Responses
  1. maddie

    This makes the resolve: “I will not use the TV as a babysitter” sound so archaic nowadays.
    I’m one of those guilty mommies. It really works – and my little guy is only 6 months old.

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