Form Follows Function?

When Should Apple Change the iPhone’s Form?

​While I was working with NASA I had the opportunity to rub shoulders with a lot of bone fide rocket scientists. These engineers at Stennis Space Center were researching next generation engines for the space shuttle and the design was limited by the technology of the day. In a nutshell, we were limited by what we could do because of heat. As we experimented with various fuels and component metal alloys one inevitable thing always happened as we pushed the envelope. The engine at some point would start to burn up it’s own internal components as fuel. But as technology advancements were made in creating alloys or fuel that line got moved back and the design could change.

Now I know this isn’t a totally analogous example to what Apple faces in manufacturing. NASA wasn’t concerned about fashion or the simple beauty of objects. However, one principle stands true for all manufacturers. As technological advances are made in materials or manufacturing, new possibilities open up in design. What was once unattainable, becomes possible. This triggers form factor changes in the manufacturing world in and of itself.
 
Form factor changes are often bottom up rather than top down. meaning that it is the new advancements in materials or manufacturing that trigger a form factor change. It’s not always the marketing department clamoring for “something new” to sell to the masses. Even if you look at the automotive world. A lot of today’s modern curvy sheet metal on cars was only made possible after advancements in sheet metal stamping dies.
 
I’ve heard more than one pundit say that the iPhone has reached it’s apex. That Apple has finally achieved the right balance of size and shape that people desire in their portable computers. That there’ s not much more that can be done now. That’s not true.
 
Hardware Form Factor Changes That Need To Happen:

1. The “Plus” iPhone is too large. Apple needs to further shrink the bezels at the top and bottom so that the length isn’t so punishing to those of us who put the phone in their jeans pocket. Again, this is waiting on advances to be made in screen technology.
2. Eventually, everyone is going to want flexible screen sizes. Can you imagine an iPhone the size of the 4” iPhone SE that unfolded into a 7” screen? Or how about an iPhone 7 Plus sized phone that could unfold into a 9” screen? We wouldn’t need iPads anymore.
3. This is a ways down the road but probably sooner than most think. Eventually our phones will be wearable. This makes them more convenient because you’d only need one data connection for all your devices. You’d never have to worry about dropping it and always have two hands free. The screen would then migrate to a tethered portable one that you put in your pocket like today or a set of augmented reality glasses. Glasses would be awesome because it continues the hands-free theme by putting your data  in front of you like automobile’s use a heads-up display to show data on their windshields.

 
I think that when Apple made the statement that the iPhone 7 is the ultimate expression of it’s current form that they were correct. And if next year’s iPhone undergoes a major change it won’t be any less true. The iPhone 7 is the best that they can do with today’s technology. But technology changes and so will Apple’s ability to deliver a better customer experience. That is when the iPhone will transform from one form to another.