What my girlfriend taught me about technology.

My girlfriend owns a pretty basic HTC Android phone (the HTC Magic). As stupid as it may seem, it taught me a lot about technology and, even more, technology adoption. Here are two recent reflections.

Device creates behavior.

At some point in our relationship, I thought it would be a good idea to surprise her with an HTC Android, to replace her old LG-whatsitsname. As with most of my good ideas, it backfired on me.
Because since then, her time spent on her phone must have quadrupled. She tweets, facebooks, checks in at Foursquare venues, sends twitpics and checks her email.

But more fundamentally, her behavior in the public space changed. Where before she would scold me for checking my email or text messages in a restaurant, now she does the same. Where before she would require me to put away my phone while watching TV, now she does the same.

For me, another proof that, no matter how small, devices create small increments of change.

Software updates as a random act of kindness.

Most recently, I rediscovered (read this article by The New York Times) how software updates can be a random act of kindness.
Sometime last month, my girlfriend had to update her Android phone to OS 2.3. As with most update notifications, the update request kept nagging her until she eventually gave in.

After the update, the complete interface was different. Icons changed, user interface elements changed, some settings were removed or added. After being confused for a day, she loved it and it eventually made her use many more of Android’s features.

Every time you do a software update, it is a chance to commit a little big act, a random act of kindness.

Written in 2010, left as it was. Where I took it later: How Amazon Echo made me a worse person.

Original: What my girlfriend taught me about technology, 24 December 2010. Historical links may no longer work.