Interaction design

A movie shows the evolution of mobile phones from 1985 till today. The different phone models transform into each other chronologically. It is interesting to see how little the design has changed over time, especially the way of how we interact with these phones.

Operating the phones

The first phones were operated by push buttons and a small display showed which number you dialed. It has taken quite a while before the display became more advanced and showed more then solely the name or phonenumber. Even those small mobile phones that could be carried in your pocket had those small displays. When the displays got bigger and menus were added also more buttons where necessary to operate those menu. But the essential interaction never really changed.

Over time the displays got color and got bigger. But the real change has been the introduction of touch screen displays. This radically changes how we interact with our mobile phones. The phones responds to physical input, especially with the introduction of multi touch screens.

Features

Over time the features have grown tremendously and once segmented product groups like blackberry’s, PDA’s, and mobile phones merge into super gadgets that can do one million things.

Changing peoples lifestyle

The most interesting aspect of mobile phones is how it changed the lifestyle of millions of people. Instead of meeting each other at six in the cafe we just call each other when are in the neighborhood. And we have contact with other people all the time, in the car, public transport and many other places. I can’t think of any product that has changed our lifestyle that much as mobile phones. Ah well, maybe the computer?

Video via e2save and New Scientist