Galapagos Syndrome

No technology is an island

Once in a while a term comes along that resonates with some truth we all feel about technology. Kludgey was one — a perfect description for an interface or experience that was designed with blatant disregard for the user. Then there was ecosystem — the notion of a decentralized technical landscape where services are deployed in the cloud. Ecosystem emerged as a metaphor just when technology companies were trying to make substances like beryllium sound eco-friendly.

Now we have a phrase that combines the frustration a a poor user experience with urgency of an environmental disaster: Galapagos syndrome.

The Japanese develop amazing cell phones. They constantly lead the world in cell technology. Kids in Tokyo were using phones as digital wallets, and to read manga, while we were still enamored with the slide-away antenna on our StarTAC. Japanese phones are expertly adapted to life on the island, but they look like alien creatures to the rest of the world. The Japanese call it Galapagos syndrome — the creation of technology that develops independently of world markets. It makes a Japanese cell phone with e-wallet features we can’t use as appealing as a Gila monster in our pocket.

I imagine that this term used to describe all manner of closed technical systems. Social networks, and proprietary e-commerce solutions, will be vulnerable, as will any system or product that can’t be deployed in a global market on an open platform. The term creates a sense of urgency that implies that prevention or an antidote for the syndrome might be possible. So it’s perfect for your next IT meeting.