If you’ve ever tried to teach someone how to use their first smartphone, you know how frustrating it can be – it’s hard to resist the urge to rip the smartphone away and show them how it’s done. This may be a thing of the past, thanks to Sony’s Evolution UI. Evolution is an “intentionally hobbled” Android launcher that makes you perform basic tasks before you can use the device. When you start up a phone with Evolution for the first time, you’ll only have access to your dialer, text messages, browser and camera. To unlock more apps and features, you’ll need to earn them. Want to check out your app launcher? Quickly open and close five apps in a row. Right now, Evolution is just a research project with no timetable for release. If it ever makes its way to market, it would only ever make sense for users who have never held a smartphone or tablet in their hands. For everyone else, it would be incredibly frustrating.
About Shelly Palmer
Shelly Palmer is the Professor of Advanced Media in Residence at Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and CEO of The Palmer Group, a consulting practice that helps Fortune 500 companies with technology, media and marketing. Named LinkedIn’s “Top Voice in Technology,” he covers tech and business for Good Day New York, is a regular commentator on CNN and writes a popular daily business blog. He's a bestselling author, and the creator of the popular, free online course, Generative AI for Execs. Follow @shellypalmer or visit shellypalmer.com.