Taking a provocative look at the Smartphone industry with CW Board Member Simon Rockman

Join CW Board Member and founder of What Mobile, Simon Rockman, on 31 January at the IET, Savoy Place, London, for an engaging lunch and lecture event entitled: “How Apple Killed Innovation: A Brief History of the Smartphone and Design”.  

Brought to you by the Central London Local Network, who invite technology enthusiasts, engineers, and design professionals to the talk, hosted by CW SIG Champion Nick Hunn from the Connected Thinking Special Interest Group (SIG).   

In this lecture, Simon will explore how the 2007 launch of the iPhone disrupted not only the mobile industry but also the spirit of engineering innovation itself.

The Premise: When Success Stalls Innovation

Throughout history, certain groundbreaking products have inadvertently stifled creativity in their respective fields. From Boulton and Watt's stranglehold on the steam engine industry to the emergence of antibiotics sidelining phage research, these "innovative bottlenecks" have shaped how industries evolve—or fail to evolve. In the world of mobile technology, the iPhone's meteoric success serves as a modern example.

Before Apple's glass-fronted revolution, mobile phones embraced diversity:

• Form factors: Flip phones, candy bars, QWERTY keyboards.
• Features: Cameras, gaming capabilities, organisers, and niche optimisations.
• Engineering focus: Battery life, radio reception, weight, and more.

Within years of the iPhone's introduction, this vibrant ecosystem of design and engineering was replaced by a homogenised market of "glass Swiss army knives." Simon will argue that, while the iPhone was a game-changer, its success led to a culture of imitation rather than invention.

 A Call to Rethink Innovation

This provocative discussion will examine the unintended consequences of Apple’s dominance and its challenge to engineers and designers. Simon will reflect on what the industry can learn from these patterns and propose ways to reawaken creativity in the face of market monopolies.

Don’t miss this unique opportunity to explore how the smartphone industry lost its nerve—and how we can rediscover the courage to innovate!

Register Now: Secure your spot at IET, Savoy Place, London, for an afternoon of insights, debate, and inspiration.