What my girlfriend taught me about technology

Note: Marieke and I got divorced in 2020. This post might not reflect the current situation.

Device creates behavior.

At some point in our relationship, I thought it would be a good idea to surprise her with a HTC Android, to replace her old LG-whatsitsname. As with most of my good ideas, they usually backfire at me.
Because since then, her time spent on her phone must have quadrupled. She tweets, facebooks, checks in at Foursquare venues, sends twitpics and checks her email.

But more fundamentally, her behavior in the public space changed. Where before she would scold me for checking my email or text messages in a restaurant, now she does the same. Where before she would require me to put away my phone while watching TV, she does the same.

For me, another proof that, no matter how small, devices create small increments of change.

Software updates as a random act of kindness.

Most recent, I re-discovered (read this article by The New York Times) how software updates can be a random act of kindness.
Somewhere last month, my girlfriend had to update her Android phone to OS 2.3. As with most update notifications: the update request kept nagging her until she eventually gave in.

After the update, the complete interface was different. Icons changed, user interface elements changed, some settings were removed or added. After being confused for a day, she loved it and it eventually made her use many more of Android’s features.

Every time you do a software update, it is a chance to commit a little big act, a random act of kindness.