Both the iPod and later on the iPhone transformed how we relate to technology, making it personal, portable and always at hand. Prior to these devices, technology tended to be stationary (such as desktop computers) or task-specific. Before the iPod, the notion of carrying around a media library in your pocket was alien; the iPhone turned that idea into one that included not just media itself but also communication, the internet, photography and apps under one smooth, touch-led interface. This gave technology a more personal texture, a feeling that it was an extension of the self, something we hold and use all the time, and use through intuitive gestures like tapping, swiping and pinching.
This transformation had major influence on interaction design, making designers to think first and foremost about mobility, simplicity and the human interface. Physical buttons were replaced by touchscreens, and that led to less sculpting of the UI, more gestural UI. Apps had to suit small screens, short attention spans and constant interruptions. Interaction design also started to take an interest in emotional bonding, habits, and the societal aspects of being ‘always connected.’ “People had to reinvent the way they lived with and through their devices,” said Ms. Rubin. “Technology had become more of an appendage of you throughout the day, and the iPod/iPhone cemented that change.”