a big trend among the techbro generation of designers is the idea that the single use device will return. ive also noticed a trend in the enjoyment that people get when they see single use devices in the media. and even to an extent, people actually enjoying using these devices.

but whats the actual sauce?

whenever tech bros try and bring them back, they fail miserably (humane ai pin, rabbit r1, various ai dedicated hardware)

how do you make an experience great enough that its better than a smartphone that already has a reserved spot on our body? I think the most obvious answer is tactility, but it also has to win the battle of convenience or at least be so enjoyable that it beats convenience. digicams for example. in my mind there's 2 main psychographics in the user base. User A likes digicams cause theyre a return to a simpler or more fond time in their life. the pics are bad, but the feeling is good. You win nostalgia points when you post on instagram cause everyone else thinks retro is in. User B likes digicams cause they can make moments look better than their phone. they exploit the differences and advantages compared to todays smartphones so the pictures look good. the first thought when these pics are seen is not “digicam”, its “wow thats a great photo”. i dont think either of these users are more correct than the other, but i think the question is how can we make products that blend the user A’s into the user B’s?

authenticity within purpose.

quick example, the analogue pocket. gamers are obviously a lot more prone to spending a lot of money while not giving a fuck about what others think but i digress. the Pocket is a pretty acclaimed device that is really a iykyk device but doesn't carry the same social cache that carrying around a real gameboy color would, yet it is so revered in the subculture.

food 4 thought.