I have been drooling over espresso machines for years, but I could never justify buying one. When I finally decided to go for it, I had the hard choice of deciding which one. There were so many choices, but most of them involved putting in a pod or just pushing a button.
The busy on-the-run part of me loved this, but the coffee lover in me wanted something with a bit more craft and ritual.
Three months later, I am still in love with my little barista machine, which is fully manual. Come to think of it, I also drive a manual car, and still prefer taking notes in an old fashioned Moleskine.
It's not that I am against tech, far from it. But I have noticed that with new technologies taking over all sorts of tasks, I have started to miss certain rituals; certain tactile experiences. I do most of my reading on the iPad, but when I get ahold of a real newspaper, it feels different. It feels more like an occasion to be savored.
This has me thinking a lot about the balance between convenience and experience; ritual versus automation; analogue verses digital. I find myself always excited about the latest tech and gadgets, but more and more drawn to things that integrate a tactility or a richer experience.
I can't be alone in this craving, and I am seeing more and more amazing products and technology that combine convenience and tech with craftsmanship, ritual and tactile experience.
For example, my Breville Espresso machine, Lapka's new environmental sensors, or Quirky's Nimbus.
I think I am confusing a few different trends here, but I can't help but think that in our rush to use technology to make our lives more convenient we have lost a bit of joy and appreciation for experiences. I am excited to see how new frontiers in technology are addressing this and blending, or balancing, the two concepts.
Are there other examples of this? Do you find yourself craving some of the old ways? Are convenience and experience mutually exclusive?