At times, I wonder whether technology gets to a stage where it peaks. By that I mean, that a product becomes too good for its own good. For many, there is value in simplicity. For instance, Coca Cola has long been the most popular drink in the world. As soon as they introduced a vanilla flavour, the product turned into a commercial disaster. For the same reason, I’d much rather vanilla ice cream to Coca Cola ice cream (if such a thing even exists). The same applies to other forms of technology. I’d definitely prefer a regular toothbrush to an electrical one; for the simple reason - it’s less likely to break! Then you come to the world of phone apps... How many different apps have you experimented with to manage your ADHD? I’m guessing the answer is ‘too many!’ With each app you download, you further decentralise your to-do lists onto something that makes the task of staying on track all the more complicated. So instead of solving a problem, too much technology can have the opposite effect of making a difficult situation worse...
Why am I writing this? Well, last week I ordered my first pair of AirPods. I was sold the idea that they were an upgrade to earphones. I assumed they’d be more convenient as a cordless alternative without any wires. But after a few days, I’ve decided that it’s yet another example of an innovation with unintended consequences. Due to their size, these AirPods are very fidgety. They’re so small, that it’s difficult to know when I’m wearing them. Not only am I at higher risk of losing them, but they need to be charged regularly. This isn’t ideal for someone with ADHD, for whom losing things is second nature. I realise that this is a first world problem, but wouldn’t life be that much better with a pair of old-fashioned earphones?
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