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The usual conception of advanced technology involves adjectives along the lines of “futuristic”, “fantastic”, or “mysterious” that’s viewed as distinct from us and our normal daily lives. Similarly, when we think of good design, we tend to think of something that’s noticeably slick with some cool “wow” factor.
However, I take the view that technology that feels futuristic and design that looks slick are not as advanced as technology and design that doesn’t even register consciously since they feel so natural.
“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.”
— Unknown
The impetus of my thinking of what constitutes advanced technology and great design is my recent purchase of the Apple Watch Series 5, and tinkering with dozens of features and apps available that are tied to the biometrics data collected from the Watch. It truly is an impressive feat of engineering and design.
I’ll consider what constitutes good technology and design, with the unifying theme of their simplicity, ease of use, and disappearance from our conscious minds.
