As a digital type, I’ve always embraced technology, experimented with code and developed physical and virtual ‘things’ in my life. When a new device or app is launched, I’m always interested, and the pace at which technology changes and develops really excites me. My current favourite device is my Pebble watch. Getting useful notifications on my wrist is brilliant and believe me I thought it would be a nightmare. I have been able to carefully adjust the settings so I only get vital notifications, and having the ability skip Sonos tracks on my watch is totally fantastic.
Apps and features make the devices we love. I’m sure we’ve all downloaded the ‘latest’ app that’s being discussed. Some we delete soon after and others we embrace and they become an integral part of our lives.
So far, despite some negative publicity, Uber seems to have got it just right. It stitches multiple technologies together and enhances a service we’ve used for decades. If you write down 10 things you dislike about your average taxi experience, I bet Uber manages to address 90% of them!
Put simply, the app manages the process of ordering a taxi. It uses GPS to locate where you are and gives you real-time updates on how long the taxi will take to arrive. It’s brilliant for exploring new areas of the city as there’s no need to worry about your exact location. You can either enter where you want to go (Uber gives you a price estimate), or you can just order one and jump in. Once you’ve request a taxi you get updates on the taxi’s ETA, and if you get distracted and loose track of time, they can call you directly with a reminder.