The User is the Most Important Person

The number one thing that the company Google knows to be true is that they focus on the user, and trust that all else will follow. Whenever Google makes a change to the browser or homepage, they make sure that it ultimately serves the user, rather than there being an internal goal for the company. I think it would be interesting to compare this concept, to put the user/individual first and the goals of the people in charge on the back burner.

For example, lets look at whether the Catholic Church embraces or disregards this concept, in terms of the self versus the community.

Self/Community in the Church
I think it would be safe to say that the Catholic Church stands as a community. It is a place where people can get together, with similar views, and pray. Catholicism's main ideas is the Golden Rule, to do onto others what you would have done onto yourself. There is a feel of unselfishishness about the Church.

But are all aspects of the Church like this? Or does Google have something that might make people feel differently about the Church? As a whole, religion, or faith, is something that people come together and believe in. But for people who are part of a Catholic Church, there are certain things that you have to believe in. In order to become a part of this community, you have to believe in the core values of that faith. Therefore it isn't so much about the individual's beliefs, but rather about what the Church says their beliefs are.

Self/Community in Google
While Google is putting all of its focus on making things easier for the user, the Church is focused on telling people how to think about topics like abortion or the death penalty. If a person wanted to form an opinion on those subjects, they could simply google it, and Google would present them with information from both sides. Google's goal is to make the user happy.

I think the main difference between Google and the Church, besides the fact that one is a company and the other is a religion, is that Google exemplifies beliefs of the self, while the Church focuses on beliefs of the community and getting everybody on the same page.

Interesting...
But this comparison brings another question to mind. The concepts of the self and the community are two different things, but many times they are forced to be mixed. People want to be a part of a community, but they also want to be their own individual. I think that individual people, groups, churches, companies, etc all struggle with finding the perfect balance of the self and the community, whether its in their personal lives or the business world.

While there may be some groups that can provide a common ground for the self and the community, I don't think it is Google.  It provides people with any information they are looking for, no matter what the subject. People are able to then choose a community that best suits them, but based on criteria that they themselves have chosen. Google also has provided a reason for people to talk less, relying more heavily on the self. Rather than calling Grandma on how to make the best pumpkin pie, I could simply google it and get a great recipe for pumpkin pie. It's simpler and less time consuming.

Overall, Google's number one thing it is proud of is that it puts the user first. This idea, in itself, suggests that Google is a strong supporter of the self. The Catholic Church, on the other hand, is all about community. People doing things together, believing in the same thing, etc. There is less of a push to please the individuals compared to whats good for the church as a whole.

Apple-Self or Community?

Technology has been a major conributor to the transition of focus from community to the self, and Apple is an excellent example of this. With every new product that they have come out with, from the mac, to the ipod and iphone, to the ipad, Apple has revolutionized the concept of being self-sufficient and independent.

The mac was a personal computer that was user friendly and allowed the user to think creatively. The ipod could hold 1000 songs in your pocket, an idea that allowed people to put in their headphones and not worry about what was going on around them. Ads for the ipod typically displayed a person rocking out to music from their headphones with their eyes closed. The iphone put together a phone, ipod, and internet all in one. Another way for a person to be self-sufficient on whatever they needed. Anything they needed to know was on the internet or a phone call away. The ipad is the ultimate depiction of the self because it is so personalized. There is a big difference between an ipad that is not personalized, such as the ones used by public libraries, and a person having their own. The individual can put on whatever apps, music, pictures etc on the ipad, and find entertainment for hours. The ipad provides a domain to make yourself feel good through entertainment and fun.




While Apple's products have been very influential in the self, you can also see a sense of community when discussing this brand. There is a such thing as the Apple cult, where people who are so obsessed with the awesomeness that is Apple that they stick together, forming a sort of community. ?

But how has Apple been changing as the world/economy changes? Have they been sticking out, or conforming?

I think the answer is both. Steve Jobs has a very good thought process for determining when it is time to do something different, and when it is time to accept the fact that they have to be similar, but I dont think he chooses the latter very often. I think many people would agree with saying that Apple has been a major contributor to changing the world, in regards to technology. It would be interesting to discuss where technology would be today if it wasnt for Apple and Steve Jobs.

The only time I have come across Jobs believing that it is time to go with the times is in regards to the logo. The first logo that was well known was the colorful apple with a bite missing. When Jobs returned to Apple in the late 1990s when the company was failing, he knew he had a lot of work to do. When creating the "new" Apple, Jobs focused on making things simple, look great, and easy to use. But he immediately realized that their colorful apple logo would be an eyesore on the new sleek looking machines. So he went with how the world was changing. The "modern" look was in, and he went accepted that that was the direction Apple had to go with its logo. So his design team came up with the modern looking Apple logo that is seen on most Apple products. To see a more detailed history of the Apple logo, click here!

iPad vs iPod touch

Apple created, in Steve Jobs words, "the greatest product ever" in the iPad. While it has many features that are great, I don't see the real difference between the iPad and iPod touch except size.

One of the big differences with the iPad was its design. The bottom edge was rounded slightly, so the user could comfortably scoop it up rather than lifting with care. But looking at the iPod touch I currently own, it has that same design.

During the launch of the iPad, Jobs said Apple had to find a middle ground between the laptop and iPhone, something that was good at "web browsing, email, photos, video, music, games, and ebooks" (pg. 494). Again, comparing that with my iPod touch, I find it can do all of those same things. The only hinderance is the size issue.

To get to the point, I think it would be very fun to have an iPad. It's a great size to easily play games, surf the web, etc. But at the end of the day, my iPod touch can do all of those same things. So if Apple keeps updating their iPod lines, to have similar features as the iPad, will the need/want for an iPad disappear? Or will people purchase one and not the other? Or do people want the joys of both having an iPad and 1000 songs in their pocket?

Apple and the Gay Movement...What??

While surfing the internet looking for something to talk about regarding Steve Jobs, I came across a LGBT site talking about the history of the gay movement, and I realized that the color combinations for the gay pride flag and Apple are strikingly similar. They use the same bright colors: green, orange, yellow, red, violet, and blue.

 Background

The colors of the rainbow is used for many multicultural movements, but the first time that the rainbow flag was used for the gay movement was in 1978, when it was created, around the same time that Apple was creating its own colorful logo. The rainbow colors stood for pride, with each color representing something. The gay community used this idea of pride to signify that they were proud of who they were and what they stood for. For more information on the gay pride flag, check out this link! Gay Movement Flag

Apple vs. Gay Pride
So, how exactly does gay pride, Apple, and concepts of the self/community come together??
       The different colors of both of these organizations symbols suggests something new and different, but also something that each group is very proud of. All of those colors demand people to look at it, so there's got to be something substantial there to back it up. Apple was coming out with the Apple II and the Mac, while the gay community was beginning to take a more public stance. The Mac and the gay community's public stance both had a major effect on the US, especially in California since both had roots in that state. Did Apple use this color effect first? Or was Steve Jobs and his old hippie self see something inspiring in the gay movement that he wanted to integrate into the Apple/Mac movement?

Self or Community?
But now the serious stuff, where does self and community come into this? I think it is actually pretty obvious. Apple was all about creating the personal computers. Making things simple and easy, so people could do it by themselves, without a manual or anybody else's help. I think that clearly signifies ideas of the self. But the gay movement required a lot of people to come together, to spread the word, and stand together strong. Its final product wasn't an actual thing, but rather helping people become ok with who they are, and letting the world know that there is no such thing as normal. I think the gay movement shows strong signs of community.

Last Thoughts

 While I could be wrong, I don't think Steve Jobs had any conscious thoughts about relating Apple products to the gay movement. I think he simply liked the bright colors and the attention that they demand because he wanted his products to demand that sort of attention. But I do think it is interesting the similarities that can be drawn between the movement  and the way that Steve Jobs created Apple.

Zazen and going "beyond things"

Steve Jobs traveled to the Western countries in the early years of his life to explore the world, and figure out what kind of person he was. He returned to the United States with a powerful belief in Zen Buddhism, and it is obvious of the many ways Buddhism has impacted his life. In particular is his need for simplicity and perfection.

Present! offers a 26 minute video on teachings from Shunryu Suzuki Roshi at the Tassajara Zen Mountain Center. Roshi taught many lessons that are easily seen in the way Jobs lived his life. Especially important was Roshi's lesson on zazen, which was when a person sits absolutely still and does not think. Ideas may come into one's mind, but these ideas may also go out, and that is all OK. I think this relates to Jobs because of the concept of focusing on these ideas. When Jobs thought a product was shit, he did not think about the consequences of voicing his thought, he simply reacted, as if he was in this state of zazen and did not think about what was coming in or out of ones mind. However, this state of zazen is also interesting when thinking about Jobs because of his constant manipulation of people. One day he would say they were brilliant, and then the next day he would go behind their back and call them stupid. He always seemed to be trying to control situations by outsmarting/overthinking people who he believed stood in his way.

Another teaching that is interesting to me was a common Buddhist characteristic, to go beyond things, to go beyond the subjective and objective worlds and the various beings and ideas that we have. When working with Apple, Jobs always demanded perfection from every single person. He wanted people to go beyond what the norm was, to go beyond what was already formed, and to create something that nobody had ever heard of before, something nobody thought was even possible. I think this characteristic was something that had a drastic effect on the way that Steve Jobs lived his life.

Important 3 minute clip relating to this blog:
Zazen and Buddhist characteristic


The 26 minute youtube clip of talks of Shunryu Suzuki Roshi at Tassajara Zen Mountain Center:

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American Individualism...Your First Language

When speaking of first and second languages, people automatically assume that they are referring to a form of communication, a vocabulary. However, Bellah et al. refers to first and second languages when describing the moral vocabulary that Americans have, which I found very interesting. Bellah et al. suggest that the first language of American individualism, or of this moral vocabulary, is a sense of religious values that focus on the community and the self. People consider situations and then make decisions based on what is best for their self. Even if that person decides to volunteer, an act that many people would say is actually selfless, there is still a strong sense of doing something to benefit the self. When asked why a person volunteered, typical answers can include "it felt good to give some of my time/skills to others" or "I felt bad for them, so I had to help" or "I had a sense of obligation (from a group they are a part of)." In each case, the real reason people decide to volunteer is because it makes them feel good, so there is some sort of personal gain involved. Bellah et al. also suggest that this first language of moral vocabulary is universal in America. Everybody has this sense of doing things that will benefit them in some way down the road.

The second language of moral vocabulary are actual religions, such as Lutheran, Islam, Catholicism, etc. However, it is interesting to note that some of these religions have taken this American individualistic vocabulary and integrated it into religion. An example of this are religious youth groups. Some churches will form these youth groups, with promises of taking trips or making things. For some children, the only reason they are a part of these youth groups is because they will be getting something out of it. They put in the time going to church and learning about a particular religion, but at the end of the day their only interest is what they are going to get out of it for themselves. This suggests that the idea that the second languages are derived from the first language is plausible, because people are still looking at how being a part of a religion/church will benefit themselves.

Live every day like its your Last

In Steve Job's 2005 Commencement speech to Standford graduates, he left them with 2 quotes that I find both impressive, and idealistic of the concepts of individualism that is described by Bellah, either utilitarian or expressive. The first quote offered by Jobs was "If you live each day as your last, someday you'll most certainly be right." Jobs followed this quote with asking himself everyday if today was his last day, would he be happy with what he was about to do that day. And if there were too many days in a row where he was not happy with what he had planned for the day, he knew he had to change something. This gives an insight into the way that Steve Jobs lived his life. He wanted to live everyday as if it was his last. He wanted to improve himself everyday. The espressive individualist focuses on the cultivation of the self to become happy with the way that one lives their own life. Bellah explains that the expressive individualist focuses on the fulfillment of the self. With this quote, Jobs is stressing to the graduates that they should be happy with how they live their own life everyday in a very expressive individualist perspective.

The second quote that Jobs leaves the graduates with is from "The Whole Earth Catalog." This catalog's last message to its followers was simple and straight forward, but also adapts a more utilitarian individualist persepctive. The quote was "Stay hungry, Stay foolish," suggesting that people should strive for new things for themselves, looking to better their situation in any way possible. The utilitarian perspective is more focused on material success rather than the fulfillment of the inner self that is stressed by expressive utilitarianism. I think it is interesting that Jobs tells these graduates to stay foolish, because he often chose the route of perfection in his designs for Apple, especially regarding the Mac. I feel like the term foolish has the connotation of imperfection or producing a rushed result, which Jobs would never have accepted.

Technological Shortcuts

Many people consider technology as an improvement in a person's daily life. But really, most of technology allows a person to be completely reliant on themselves, without the help of anybody else. For example, the smartphone has all of these apps which appear to better the individual, but with no personal contact with any other human being. There is an app to help a person with their diet, to remind them to exercise, and online shopping apps. Some phones even have a voice activated system that talks back to the owner. I'm not saying smartphones are a bad thing, many of my friends and family members own one. They can come in handy when lost by using the gps system it contains, and it is a good source of communication, via texting, talking, or emailing. But the American ideal of individualism can be easily seen in the way technology allows a person to become even more self-sufficient, and not have to rely on the help of others for their own personal goals.