Technology has made HUGE advancements within the past few decades. Not only in technological advances but in gaining strides toward the ubiquitous future that we constantly discuss in class. How? By appealing to complete technology duds such as myself. I don't know anything about technology, I am horrible with gadgets, and don't know what to do if anything were to break. When I buy a new gadget, honestly, my aim is not to buy the most advanced model out in the market. Rather, I look for the most aesthetically pleasing one. And luckily, the “prettiest” things happen to also be the most advanced as well so I never suffer too much. But when did technology start transitioning from being efficient tools to personalized toys?
Everything we buy today is geared towards aesthetics. Cell phones were once black boxes which were cool only because it was mobile. But nowadays, instead of simply keeping the free phone they give you when signing up for a service, everyone opts to pay a couple hundreds for what? Better customer service? Greater coverage? No. They pay up for an embedded camera, for catchy ring tones, for ultimately, a sleeker phone. The same deal goes for iPODs. From what I remember there were tons of mp3 players around before the iPOD came out. But why is the iPOD the dominating and almost singular player owned by so many people?? Because Apple understood that most of America is not technologically savvy, that most of us wouldn’t appreciate the scientific process behind the machines. They have made a huge empire off of a single product which now includes skins, armbands, earphones, wireless remotes, FM transmitters, voice recorders, etc. Not surprisingly, other businesses have also caught onto the lucrative prospects of beautification.
Color-Ware Inc. is a company which specializes in the personalization of electronics to make them more appeasing to the eye. According to Playlist magazine which recently featured the company in their summer 2005 issue:
Wish Apple offered its larger iPods in colors, as it does the iPod mini? ColorWare's got you-and you iPod-covered. ColorWare sells fourth-generation iPods and iPod photos painted in your choice of 20 colors, from steel to carbon and every vivid hue inbetween-it evens offers colorized docks and headphones. ColorWare iPods cost $65 more than their white counterparts. If you’ve already got a first-, second-, or third-generation iPod, the company will colorize it for $49 (4G or photo model, $64)-and you can choose any custom color for $99 more. ColorWare will even color-match your current dock or iTrip FM transmitter for $19 and you earbuds for $10 (www.colorwarepc.com).
Because as the CEO, Justin Cisewski, rightly said, “Computers used to be all about utility. Now they're fashion statements”.
Comments
Posted by: Edwin Choi
Posted on: October 9, 2005 11:34 PM
you are so cool
omg
Posted by: Edwin Choi
Posted on: October 9, 2005 11:35 PM
you are so cool
omg
Posted by: Britt
Posted on: October 11, 2005 09:47 AM
I am finding the same results in my research paper on the Rokr. The companies are targeting certain age groups and the aesthetics are mostly pleasing to the younger generation. The bells and whistles are pleasing to them and therefor they put up the cash and consume the product.
Good observations!
Posted by: Suzy Kark
Posted on: October 13, 2005 05:04 PM
Aesthestics may also be a part of marketing strategy. When Apple first introduced the iPod mini's, I believe the colors were limited and as time went by the expanded the color hues. Also, I predict that with the iPod nano, which currently comes in only black and white, they will soon be producing nanos in color. This organized spacing of selling products probably increases their revenue; if a person has a nano in black or white, they will probably want a color one even more when they come out.