The average Nigerian in this generation (who can afford to be) is gadget crazy, owning something close to three gadgets and still intending to acquire more. You wonder why? We are brilliant, we are smart, and we like good things. I have heard it said that we are a consumer nation – one that imports almost everything we use – and I begin to wonder, if we actually produced these gadgets, would we be this crazy about them?
Picture this: a lady sits in front of her laptop holding a Samsung Galaxy S3 in one hand and a BlackBerry Bold 5 in another hand, a Nikon smart camera hangs around her neck and in the handbag beside her, an iPad is slightly exposed. All these are connected to the internet via the MiFi device in her pocket. Yet, she is thinking about getting the new BlackBerry Q10. The question is: do we buy gadgets because we love playing with some new gizmo or are we just showing off?
A quick one for the seemingly rational person who has a coordinated strategy when acquiring these devices, you might have wondered if there are any tips that can help in deciding what new gadget to get. Depending on the gadgets you already own and the needs driving you to purchase the new gadget being considered, the answer is yes.
So we start by considering the basic uses these gadgets have. Off the top of my head, I would mention internet access on the go, productivity tools, communication, music, videos, ebook readers, camera, and gaming. In addition to these functions, other things to consider will be: having great battery life, taking clear pictures and having good storage. When choosing a second (or third or fourth gadget), you should ask if the new gadget makes up for a lack of one of these basic functions in your current device.
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It is also necessary to ask whether these gadgets are assets, liabilities or potential security threats. Remember the lady from before, all her gadgets might be considered assets if she can monitor and improve her business because of them. Conversely, they could become liabilities if all they do is tie down finances that could have been invested more adequately. They could also be security threats – this show of ‘luxury’ could attract the wrong kind of attention, exposing the owner as a prime target for criminals and putting both owner and device(s) at risk. Let’s not talk about the adverse emotional, financial and psychological effects a loss of one or more of these devices, due to theft or carelessness, could have on the owner.
Lest I forget, I am of the opinion that we as a technology participatory economy, will thrive better if we had the concept of “trade-ins” introduced and flourishing. A typical trade-in process, would involve returning your current gadget, in the form of a technical sale. After due evaluation has been done, you can add some extra amount to pick up the newer device you want. This will also prevent devices from just piling up because it provides an option for effective disposal, with a bonus to boot.
If you have ideas or tips regarding the ideal number of gadgets an individual should own, or the larger topic about the craze for mobile gadgets in this generation, please share in a comment below.
