Jan Chipchase: The anthropology of mobile phones

TL;DR

As the world becomes increasingly connected through technology, understanding human behavior and designing for the future becomes crucial.

Transcript

I live and work from Tokyo, Japan. And I specialize in human behavioral research, and applying what we learn to think about the future in different ways, and to design for that future. And you know, to be honest, I've been doing this for seven years, and I haven't got a clue what the future is going to be like. But I've got a pretty good idea how p... Read More

Key Insights

• 🌍 The future is uncertain, but understanding human behavior is key to designing for it.
• 💼 The speaker's office is not in a lab, but in places like India, China, Brazil, and Africa.
• 📱 Cellular connectivity is expanding rapidly, with 3 billion people expected to have it by the end of the year.
• 🔑 The three most important things people carry across cultures and genders are keys, money, and a mobile phone, primarily for survival purposes.
• 🗝️ Reflection moments, tapping pockets, and having a designated center of gravity help people remember what they carry.
• 📝 Delegation to technology and others can help prevent forgetting important items, highlighting the importance of understanding what can be delegated.
• 📡 Mobile phones have the ability to transcend space and time, making them valuable tools for connectivity and survival.
• 🏙️ The street is a valuable source of innovation and inspiration, challenging traditional design and distribution norms and providing solutions that meet local conditions.
• 💡 With the increasing connectivity of the world, the speed of sharing ideas and adopting objects will continue to accelerate, and the conversation needs to include and listen to the perspectives of the newly connected population.

Questions & Answers

Q: How does the speaker approach understanding the future and designing for it?

The speaker approaches understanding the future by studying human behavior and applying the findings to design. He believes that while the future may be uncertain, understanding how people behave in different contexts can provide insights for designing for the future.

Q: What are the three most important objects that people across cultures and gender carry?

The three most important objects that people across cultures and gender carry are keys, money, and a mobile phone. These objects are valued for their ability to support basic survival needs, such as shelter, warmth, transportation, and communication.

Q: How do illiterate people manage their contact information?

Illiterate people often delegate the task of managing their contact information to others. They rely on trusted individuals to help them store and retrieve phone numbers, email addresses, and postal addresses. This highlights the importance of delegation and social networks in overcoming literacy barriers.

Q: How does delegation play a role in a rural village in Uganda?

In a rural village in Uganda, people use the concept of "sente" to delegate the task of sending money as airtime. The wage earner in the city purchases a prepaid card, reads out the number to the local village phone operator, and the operator uses it to top up their phone. The process allows for basic banking services and showcases the power of delegation in enabling financial transactions in areas with limited infrastructure.

Q: How does street innovation challenge the norms of design and distribution?

Street innovation, as seen in the example of repairing broken phones in India and China, challenges traditional design and distribution processes. It demonstrates that with basic tools, knowledge, and a social network, people can fix and reuse broken objects, leading to more sustainable and localized solutions. This challenges the norms of planned obsolescence and centralized control in design and distribution.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The speaker specializes in human behavioral research and designing for the future.

• The research focuses on what people carry with them and the significance of certain objects.

• Delegation and adaptation are key strategies for survival in an increasingly connected world.