Some thoughts on putting extra polish and thought into creating a more unique, pleasant and fun experience for users, and on the value of character and integrity.
I’ve talked about Adventures in Odyssey (AIO) in my first blog post, and here I am talking about it again! It’s a long-running, faith-centered family drama and has some really great cultural elements that are timely when listening with your kids. I’m really glad to see content coming out about AIO characters dealing with the downloadable friend paradox that AI can offer, such as in the episode As Iron Sharpens Iron.
I’m a Sucker for Retro Tech
I recently bought a Sony Mavica FD100 which uses a dual memory storage system to shoot. This thing is a lo-fi digital relic and I love it. It’s able to capture images on a memory stick or a floppy disk. Yes. A floppy disk. It’s a 1-point-something megapixel camera and while I’m under no delusion it’s the top of the line I bought it because I’m a sucker for retro tech. I often use retro tech in my design and visual methodologies. For instance, I have the following:
- Super 8 Camera (crazy expensive to shoot and develop)
- Fuji Instax Wide – got my wife hooked and she now has her own.
- Mamiya645 Holga toy camera
- Lomography Super 35
- Nikon F5
- Polaroid Land Camera
- Polaroid 600
- Polaroid SSx
- The list goes on…
(And BTW, I’m writing this while listening to Charles Bradley on vinyl in my office)
A Floppy Disk Named Applesauce
I was testing the floppy disks I bought (I see why we stopped using them) and none of them worked except one. I jokingly wrote Applesauce on it, a famous story arc in AIO, and decided to do a retro homage to the plot by creating a bit of an interactive game.
Character and Integrity Will Keep You There
Prov 22:1 says “A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold,” and that’s true. In your career, accomplishments will get you the job but character and integrity will keep you there. I’ve seen so many people get to the top of their career ladder and lose it all: their job and the more important things that matter, like family.
It’s sad that men especially forget how replaceable they are at work yet seek to place that above family and are willing to sacrifice family for work and momentary and immediate satisfaction.
Finding a Hero in Whit
Now maybe I’m starting to sound like an AIO Superfan. In my 40s now, I’m a little late to the game I think. I didn’t get into AIO until my son was gifted an app subscription, but John Avery Whitaker, known as Whit, is someone I aim to be in my community. A tinkerer of things, a trusted confidant, an entrepreneur, and a Christ follower. Somehow he’s everywhere yet home at the same time. I digress in my musing here, except to say when we talk about careers and integrity in a world of fallen men and examples, life can be stranger than fiction and sometimes we have to look to fiction for our heroes.
This past summer I went to SONIC-CON and got to hear Phil Lollar speak and I loved what he said about culture: it’s not enough to decry the culture, you have to provide the alternative. The character of Whit encapsulates that proverb and quietly and humbly provides an alternative to a world of story arcs where good and Godly men can be hard to find.
Here’s the link, enjoy: MABLE / APPLESAUCE
I encourage you to download the AIO app, check out the story arc of The Blackgaard Chronicles and tell me if Applesauce sounds like a story you’ve heard before?