The Rarest Thing in Software
Holidays are one of the most special times in a child’s life. They are important moments of reflection, celebration, and giving thanks. A time to appreciate those around us, the things we love and cherish, and the communities that make us whole. As I sit here on a cold, rainy Easter Sunday, watching my own children decorate easter eggs and scarf down enough chocolate to send an elephant into a coma; I wonder where software can possibly fit into this occasion. How can software inspire any of these emotions? As developers, marketers, entrepreneurs, executives; what are we missing?
In today’s ocean of technology we are inundated with over 2 million Apps currently available on the App Store and Google Play store!
“Oh, the noise! Oh, the noise! Noise! Noise! Noise!”
We have Apps for the news! Apps to buy shoes! Apps for the weather! Or to find hats the have feathers! Apps for our friends! Apps to watch trends! Apps for finding love that never ends! We use these Apps day-in and day-out, Apps with maps and Apps without! Yet on a day such as Easter these Apps are cast out!
How can something that is such a pivotal part of our everyday life, have no place on such meaningful days? What key ingredient is missing in so many pieces of software floating around this ocean? Two days ago we received a photo here at Street Kingpins from a member of our App, let’s call her Lila. Lila is a 12 year old girl who participated in our last video contest and took home our 3rd place prize! Here is the photo that we received:
When I first saw this photo I was flooded with a rush of emotions, I felt the chills run up my spine and down my arms. I was simply lost for words. That was the moment where I finally understood the true possibility of software and that maybe, just maybe, this is what we as technologists have been missing the whole time.
Everyday, new and amazing software comes out that can ‘do’ just about anything. It gives people what they want, it helps them accomplish tasks faster, it helps them share with others, or shop right from the comfort of their home. These tools are pretty incredible and have definitely changed the way we ‘do’, but far too often we don’t focus on changing the way people ‘feel’. These feelings can vary but the key to any successful community is feeling INCLUDED. As humans we long to feel included, we long to be a part of something bigger, our family, our friends, OUR COMMUNITY. Lila felt so included in the Street Kingpins community that she included us on one of her most special of days! When told she could decorate her Easter Eggs with anything in the world, any pictures, any words, anything at all; she chose our logo.
It was this moment that I realized how much more than just software we had created! We had created a brand and a community that made Lila feel included. She is not a user, but a member. A member of something bigger than an App on her phone, but a member of an idea. The idea that anyone and everyone has a place in skateboarding, regardless of your age, skill level, race, gender, or socioeconomic background. Skateboarding is all inclusive of those that have a passion to stand sideways on a board. This has been the foundation of the Street Kingpins platform from day 1!
As technology continues moving forward and penetrating our daily lives more and more, it is time we rethink the way we ‘include’ the humans that use our Apps. Instead of thinking of them as our product or our consumers, we need to always remember they are our greatest asset. Without these valued community members, our technology would have no purpose. As we head into an unknown future of human/machine interaction we must remember that instead of separating our technologies from ourselves; we must include ourselves to build beautiful things greater than just another App.
