Apple’s iPad opens the door to Voltron-computing

By now, everyone has seen the iPad, the new device released from Apple in January. While many arguments have been made by prominent writers and technologists as to why the iPad is great (HTML5) or why the iPad is a dud (No Flash), I want to take a different approach on how the iPad altogether. The iPad should be thought of as a complimentary part of the overall computing experience.

Do you remember Voltron? You know him...the defender of the universe?

For those who may not know what Voltron is, the short story is that five robotic lions join together to form an unstoppable force for good which surpassed the strengths of the lions individually. (Click here for Voltron and skip to 1:15 to see the combination). I think of the iPad as confirmation that devices, namely mobile devices such as laptops and phones, can work together to surpass the capabilities and the innovations of the individual devices. For example, when I saw the iPad demo of Brushes during Apple’s announcement, I thought about the Wacom tablet. If I want to be able to see a what I am drawing on the device itself, I may have to pay $999 for a device like the Wacom Cintiq 12WX. Instead, an iPad costs half the price and I can do more than just draw on it. I may even decide to use future iPad applications that feature more than pen-like interactions like this iPad proof of concept from IKEA

The iPad could very much be the precursor to a Voltron-computing age where devices no longer compete with each other, but they complete each other. Combined with a Macbook, Macbook Pro, Windows laptop, or even an iPhone, what idea can’t be expressed? What presentation can’t be enhanced? Instead of getting locked into a mindset of how much utility the iPad could have before its available, can we all agree that the iPad, the software, or maybe even the apps could open the door to design and interaction that may never have been possible using a singular device model?

You don’t have to believe it or even accept it. Just consider it...