iPhone=Visionary

I have an iPhone. I love my iPhone (click pic). I'm somewhat of a tech geek, but only to a point. I like technology if it advances the bottom line, makes us better communicators or increases efficiency. The iPhone achieves these goals. How? Simplicity. The camera is easy to use, the iPod is easy to use, the e-mail tools are great and it jumps from e-mail links to Safari in no time flat. I easily move between my home and office wi-fi networks or just use the network. OK, my big fingers need to practice with the keyboard, but it beats a Blackberry. My six-year old figured out the functionality within a few minutes, as did a techno-phobic office mate who can barely work our copy machine. I have nontechno-savvy friends who have walked into an Apple store, picked up the phone, and quickly learned the UI and functionality. They could move between the applications without thinking, thanks to big buttons, a QWERTY keyboard, and simple applications. Simplicity works.

I've heard the grumbles and complaints, but given that Apple came up with a feature set and made it work is nothing short of visionary. Yes, they could have added more (and they will), but they came up with a vision and fulfilled it; quite admirably, too. It doesn't play embedded Flash items on websites, but that's on the way (frankly, who cares). I filled out two online giving scripts with no problems at all. Plus, if text message giving takes off, then who needs the browser, right? And, the feature sets, apps, and bug fixes will roll out over the next few months. Heck, they'll even have an iPhone nano soon (I'll already be considered old-school). Even if you say phooey to the iPhone, all phones will look like this within two years. Visonary, indeed.   

So, how can iPhone help your nonprofit? Well, as much as any new technology. It can help only if you make it work. And initially, the audience will be very small. But, take a look at your site on the iPhone safari browser. How does it look? Is it spaced out well? Is the text evenly spaced? Does it have a lot of Flash? Are links properly coded? Does the CSS work well? You site design could be heavily influenced by how it looks an an iPhone. Look at SMS messaging and look into text-based giving. Maybe there is an app you could be developing for the iPhone? Start thinking ahead and gauge the development waters—our nonprofit could be on the threshold of something visionary, too.
 
This post submitted on an iPhone :)