The email from my dad that read: “At noon there appeared at my door a brilliant light accompanied by choirs of angels and cherubim,” was no surprise.
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| From Susannaspeier.com |
Thanks to the media’s megafication of Apple’s already megafied iPad buzz, Dad’s experience was not a unique one.
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| From Susannaspeier.com |
Dad is all about reading newspapers and is thrilled to have the process streamlined. Given the volume of newspaper articles he goes through every day, the iPad makes sense for him. Were the crowds camping in front of the Apple Stores all night also trying to get their newspaper reading process streamlined?
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| From Susannaspeier.com |
When I bought my iBook G4, I was given choice of two screen sizes. After some deliberation and phone calls to friends, I decided to pay the few extra hundred bucks for the larger screen. Although I did not regret it, its not like I’d have know any differently had I gotten the small screen instead since I would have adapted to it.
Now, imagine if Apple had released the large screen iBook G4 two years after releasing the small screen iBook G4. Sprinkle in some adjustments to make the system run more smoothly and there would be no question but to get the larger version. People would, in fact, camp in front of an Applestore all night in order replace their smaller screen versions with the larger screen iBook G4s.
Back in the 90s, when I was living and studying in Amsterdam, University of Amsterdam Professor Richard Rogers introduced me to the Technological Sublime.
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| From Susannaspeier.com |
Whereas the natural sublime was the awestruck state brought about through a direct encounter with an extraordinary encounter with a natural landscape –Niagra Falls, Big Sur, Bryce Canyon, Devil’s Tower, Old Faithful, you get the jist– the Technological Sublime described heightened state brought about through an encounter with technology. In the mid 19th century, the technological sublime characterized the first encounters with railroads, steam engines and telegraphs.
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| From Susannaspeier.com |
Regardless of whether or not you actually need the iPad, I’m guessing your pulse will report an increase when you hold it in your hand and tap its smooth monolithic surface.
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| From Susannaspeier.com |
Unlike the Natural Sublime, the Technological Sublime has an expiration date. Soon as the next version is out, the previous version is defunct. In some cases vintage value can add value again, years after. My original 1984 Macintosh is an example of this. Ordinarily, however, that’s not the case. Nobody asks to look at my iBookG4 now, however because Apple minions are passionate transients who know how to make the most of a product launch.
