So, basically, when you dock and sync your iPod Shuffle, it doesn't seem to update your Recently Played playlist, meaning iTunes (and Audioscrobbler's plugin) can't infer what you're been listening to on the Shuffle. The need to keep costs down I can understand. However, arguably the most interesting things about the products and devices emerging today is their ability to create or contribute towards a sense of self - both in terms of the product and the owner. As products get smarter in terms of being aware of their behaviour - in some senses, becoming reflexive - and as their raison d'être gets increasingly close to personal, social functionality - in some senses, becoming involved in presentation of self and the behaviour of the users - there is huge potential to build devices which become increasingly, personally meaningful, which can adapt to personal context and preference like never before. …
When I spoke about this in November, I paraphrased and extended Naoto Fukasawa's quote: that design is dissolving in behaviour, and products are emerging from it. I believe this to be a potentially powerful message in informational product design, and I'm disheartened that Apple have not seen that even their low-end devices should be part of this world. I'm not sure how easy it is for Apple to change that, either. I apologise to all concerned if I'm missing something basic, and the Shuffle does do these things and more, but at least it's forced me to articulate this idea of reflexive, social products within software systems increasingly focused on representation of self.
Last December, I collated a number of insights about design that I find important: 'Design dissolves in behaviour'.
