Hello

In general, I agree with the notion of a 'no frills' approach - particularly
to mobile phones- as opposed to the growing 'featuritis' or 'creeping
featurism' which seems to be predminant now.  However, I have recently been
looking into 'smartphones', considering how they might function as a tool to
support our 'Creative Process Journal' course; a component of our Masters in
Design programme.  I was particularly interested in opportunities which this
approach might open up in terms of students recording and documenting their
own work process in 'real time' through audio memo, text and photography,
using an interface with which they are fairly familiar (to minimise barriers
there), and which is mobile. I am interested in looking at how this mobility
and functionality could be used to address percieved barriers to recording
while making.  Material could then be automaticlly uploaded to a blog/moblog
(or potentially the VLE) for further review.

After reviewing the various pros and cons of a pile of smartphones and PDAs
over the xmas holidays, I was excited to see the iPhone launch, which looks
(on paper) to fit the various criteria (and more).  However, I had a look at
the online material last night, and it looks like the Europe launch will be
in the fourth quarter of this year.  I would be interested in finding out if
the US ones might work in the UK...

Well, these are my thoughts.

Helen McGilp
School of Design
Glasgow School of Art