Today we got to play with iPads in class. I recently got to hold one for the first time right before second term started, however, it is still nice to have the latest in technology within reach. Its obvious that a couple of things got tweaked since the original iPad, like the cameras on the rear and front of the device. I personally think that is the greatest addition to any technological device. For too long young people have tried to aim the lens directly at themselves when attempting to take pictures by themselves. But I digress... The iPad is big news because it is innovative and empowering to the self.
In Steve's original iPad launch on January 2010, Jobs talked about wanting to be at the corner of Liberal Arts and technology. One of his slides represented this concept by having a street corner marked by Liberal Arts and Technology streets. The image is in the video. This is grabbed my interest because I was able to understand what he meant by saying that only because I had an iPad in my hands. As a Lawrence University student, I feel that me and perhaps the rest of my classmates can understand the connection between liberal arts. Since we attend a liberal arts college, just as Jobs did, we know that the purpose of liberal arts is to connect different disciplines in order to have a well-rounded individual. That is why English majors must have a math course and a science course before they graduate. Even though it is not their major it is understood that you should dapple into many different things that you otherwise wouldn't do. Jobs always talks about going to that calligraphy class at Reed and how that inspired one of the many traits of Macs. The iPad is at the corner of technology and liberal arts. The state of the art design makes it look futuristic and its simplicity makes it accessible to a wide spread community.
I believe that the iPad made a hit in the market for tablets everywhere. Jobs had the great innovation for stylus-less touch screens. The iPad 3 has a better touch precision than the first Apple iPad but that is to be expected with any new versions of the same device. Microsoft used a stylus because at the time that was a big deal and it even gave a professional look to the owner of it. Jobs' Apple iPad gave the feel of something less professional and a lot more informal. The informality of the iPad design makes it a great customer buy because of the personal identity that comes along with it. The iPad successfully grasps the personal life of its customers with liberal arts and technology.
I am glad you brought this up (and perfect use of TubeChop!). I had meant to talk about this liberal arts stuff. I am curious too what you think he meant by that phrase. Is he talking about what we do here at Lawrence, or does he have some other meaning in mind. I have trouble deciding. The final paragraph seems to digress from the liberal arts thrust of the earlier paragraphs.
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