The Flipside Story is my personal collection of mobile devices over the last two decades that shaped my appreciation and knowledge of mobile technology.
As a student in the early 2000's I couldn't wait to get my hands on the latest mobile technology, and with every release of a new model I eagerly researched the gains in screen pixels, megapixels, network speeds, etc. Yes, these were truly exciting times where one could witness mobile technology evolve by leaps and bounds.
And often, new ideas and concepts draw scepticism. My first encounter with a 3G mobile at a Three store in the Sydney CBD left me with disgust – how could something so big and ugly call itself a mobile phone? It was a machine alright, but not a phone. My obsession with colour-rich screens and sleek form factors was shaped by Samsung's large collection of shiny, sophisticated and small flip phones. Prettier than Nokia, but about as functional.
The Sharp 903SH would change all that. Size was suddenly no issue. Functionality and quality became the new key criteria. So many mediums in a single device, amazing. Japanese tech simply delivered – it was years ahead of the West. As I learned more about what Japan had to offer, I grew jealous. But Australia & Europe simply weren't ready for this sort of innovation.
Then came iPhone (which of course I vehemently opposed at first). Smartphones are now the norm. Mobile payments are replacing cash all over the world. We got Apps. What's the big deal? Perhaps much of it would not exist today without the meticulous innovation that Japanese handset manufacturers and network providers trialled almost a decade earlier to provide a blueprint for Apple, Samsung and others to bring its consumer technology to the masses.
So came the idea for The Flipside Story. Explore the feature phones that became the #pastfuturetechnology. The pioneers of fingerprint scanners, mobile wallets, Emojis (yes..) and SO much more.
But please don't just take my word for it. Experience the technology for yourself. I sincerely hope to put a smile on your face, trigger the occasional ‘a-ha moment' and blow your mind at least once.
Kind regards,
Christian Rene Legere