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Fric had been assigned the dumbest of the standard tones, which the phone manufacturer described as 'a cheerful, child-pleasing sound suitable for the nursery or the bedrooms of younger children.' Why infants in nurseries or toddlers in cribs ought to have their own telephones remained a mystery to Fric. Were they going to call Babies R Us and order lobster-flavored teething rings?

Dean R. Koontz#29

AbsurdityConsumerismFamilyTechnology

About this quote

What does it mean?
The absurdity of designing baby phones highlights how technology often solves problems that do not exist.
In plain terms
Tech companies invent unnecessary products for demographics that do not need them.
What can you take from it?
Question the necessity of consumer tech marketed to vulnerable groups.

Where it applies

  • product design reviews
  • marketing critique
  • parenting decisions

Putting it to work

  • evaluate product necessity
  • critique marketing
  • parental awareness

Questions to consider

  • Who benefits from this product?
  • Is this a solution looking for a problem?

Another view

Some niche products genuinely serve specific safety or communication needs.

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