Connectors

I’ve always hated cell phones. I think it is because I’ve been in enough difficult work situations over the years where people would call me in the middle of the night with trivial stuff if I had one. But I also don’t like those little screens and crude interfaces.

What I would like is a connector.

A little, really tough, durable device that I can use to communicate with only a tiny number of people. Oddly I want it to be a small fixed number like five, so I can politely decline other connections.

Since it is small, maybe even a pin, you can always carry it around with you. It should be able to survive bouncing around in my pockets and be waterproof as well. Basically indestructible.

It would have a little button that toggles between the different people, and another to push to talk. When you want to contact someone you pick them, hold down the talk button, and speak. That audio is converted into text and sent to the other person in the cheapest, most reliable manner.

When someone receives a message the device vibrates and a light goes on. They hit a button and the text is converted back into audio (different voice though). Maybe it only stores the last three messages per person, it is not particularly historic. If they want to respond to a message they hold down the talk button and speak.

In the back, there are read and receive receipts. You do know if the other person has successfully received and listened to the message, although not exactly when. Since they can only hold three from you, you'll know when it's full, but you can cause it to cycle if you want (if you really regret what you just said).

The only other feature is in administration. It uses Bluetooth or infrared or some other local communication for set up. That is you can only add someone when both devices are in the same room together and both people agree. Both press at the same time; it gets synced.

It’s meant for tight family connections, not general communication. Basically, instead of tracking people, you guarantee that when they get a chance they’ll hear what you said, even if they choose to ignore you. So, basically for short urgent communication or emergencies. But not suitable for gossip or rambling.