Simplify

As a self-described futurist, and being an amateur trend-spotter, one trend that I see as an almost universal desire, but still in fantasy land is simplicity. One could argue that death is the ultimate simplicity, no decisions needed anymore, and that simplicity is not necessarily something to aspire to.

Simplicity as I see it, though, is not an absence of stimuli, but the presence of inherently understandable, refined to the essence with all the good of the place, experience or thing gleaned and brought to the fore kind of stimuli (whew that's a run-on).

As much as audiophiles scoff at the Bose sound systems, the reason above-average people like these is because they simplify. While the quality is superior, but not necessarily exquisite, it is good enough for someone who loves music and simplicity too.

The I-Pod succeeds for much the same reason. What are some other inventions that simplify life?

• Books--less eyestrain, no moving parts to break, quiet, requires little energy. Computer books by contrast cause eye-strain, break, are loud and can poop out. Sony, I beg you not to go down this computer-book mode. It will fail.
  
• Internet--out with encyclopedias, in with the Internet. Who needs heavy books when all the information in the world is at your fingertips? Now, if the power goes out that's another story, which is why books are an even better back-up than back-ups. Who needs a newscaster's shrill voice, when I can read comprehensive news or be updated instantly when something happens? Now Sony might be able to score with a mobile, automatically uplinked to the Internet "book" that could be used for research purposes--Doctors, Lawyers, etc. who might need to verify a treatment or case, etc. But I still say pleasure reading will be with books.
  
• Sticky-notes--for the obvious reasons
• Pencils--pencils have a nice feel, can be sharpened or allowed to dull to preference (pens, you better buy the exact kind you like 'cuz you're stuck with it), can be multiple colors and can write under water, too! See, when you go through a hurricane, and are sitting in a flood and have to make a note to yourself or someone else, pencil is good. Paper might be soggy though.
• Fruit--Perfect package, beautiful textures, biodegradeable. MacDonalds hamburgers--ugly package, bland texture and biodegradeable in the year 2050.

Those are things. What about experiences? For example, my husband and I live and work in a planned community. We drive two minutes to the grocery store, two minutes to school (which is across from work), two minutes to friends houses, a minute to one of the scores of parks, etc. Our day-to-day life is more simplified so when chaos happens, at least it's on a simple back-drop.

People ask, "Why did you move to Houston when you can live anywhere?" Denver, Seattle, San Diego, Fill-in-the-Blank is sooooo beautiful! True, that. Here, though, was our criterion:

1. Cosmopolitan--Close to the arts, science, professional sports, culture.
2. Industrial--A city who was at least partly based on something tangible--not just service industries.
3. Low cost-of-living--A city where average people, with average salaries could live.
4. Water--Close to big bodies of water where there wasn't reliance on say, the Hoover dam.
5. Sunshine--No freezing temperatures, no gray skies for eight months, no need for winter clothes. (Saves money and storage!)
6. Airports--Driving an hour to tiny airports where tickets are expensive holds no allure having done it for years. (Again saves money.

We didn't want to wait til our 40s to start having kids, a home or any of the other things associated with a real, adult, American life. We wanted to be able to have a little extra money so we could afford lessons for the kids, dinners out, and small treats for ourselves every once in a while. Stretched to the gils by overhead impedes happy lives, I don't care if you get to look at a mountain or not. It's no funny seeing it when you'd rather be skiing it but can't because you'd like to eat that month. Simple economics.

Companies who want to succeed will simplify things for people. Homestead.com and Squarespace.com help people create beautiful websites easily (you'll see for yourself, soon). What is behind the simple facade may be complicated, but for the average person who doesn't want to be an expert Mechanic, Computer Programmer, Cook, Pool Owner, Home Owner, etc. As people specialize professionally, they don't want to have to be a genius to buy and sell a stock, communicate via the web, eat a gourmet meal, swim in a pool.

Oh, and another trend? The product, place or experience must be asthetically pleasing. Ugly is out. Form and Function is the goal. Simple, beautiful and functional. That is why a good book will always be "in" while computer books for pleasure will have a tough time gaining traction.