In this issue we return to top level motorsport but not in a conventional way, and by doing so accelerate the development of our electric powertrains. In tandem, we introduce our Jaguar I-PACE Concept vehicle - a revolutionary new model available to reserve now for delivery in 2018.
ESSAY Mind The (g)App
ESSAY Mind The (g)App RESOLVE TODAY TO STOP LIVING IN THE PAST SAYS TIM DOWLING, THERE’S A LOT MORE TO RECOMMEND THE FUTURE THAN A HANDY FLASHLIGHT ON YOUR PHONE There comes a point in middle age when you begin to think about the future with a sort of gnawing dread. Not long after that, it will dawn on you that whenever you think about the future, you’re really thinking about the present. This happened to me early one school day while I was busy shouting at my children for watching TV in their coats instead of being at the bus stop. They looked away from the television just long enough to roll their eyes at me. “No one waits for buses anymore,” said one. “What are you talking about?” I said. “We use the bus app,” said the other one, holding out his phone to show me that the next southbound 220 was still a good 18 minutes away. I looked at it the way a caveman might look at a gas meter, working my jaw silently. Then I walked off, confused and defeated. At that moment a yawning gulf opened up between me and the present. Not only had I never heard of the bus app, I had never given any thought to the notion that a mobile phone might be put to such use, because I grew up in an era when waiting at a freezing bus stop for 18 minutes was considered character building. Obviously technology has changed us all in recent years, but if you’re of a certain age it’s probably changed you in a peculiarly limited way. For me the most revolutionary aspect of owning a smart phone is that it means I always have a flashlight with me. Since that fateful morning I have actually downloaded the bus app, and I find it tremendously useful, though not as useful as a flashlight. The resistance I put up to the idea was, in the end, a pointless protest against the march of progress. It’s fine for a middle aged man to resent the future – most of it’s going to happen after I’m dead – but the present is here already. I might as well live in it. There is a larger point here. Mid-life is not just an age when many people stop embracing technological innovation, but new things generally. If you’re not careful this attitude can harden into a generic fear of progress and a growing distaste for adventure. If you stay on this road the present will quickly become the past. Eventually you’ll become alienated from the modern world, and your children will do unkind imitations of you trying to use a touchscreen ticket machine at the airport. I know this from bitter experience. Think of me as someone shouting back at you from the other side of this generational divide, telling you not to follow me. You don’t need to be a child to retain a childlike enthusiasm for new technology. And if you think that your old technology no longer has anything to offer you, you’re wrong. I just found an app that turns my phone into a magnifying glass. The idea of suddenly embracing the future may seem daunting, but remember - you’re not competing with anyone. Accept technology into your life at your own pace, and start small. If you haven’t done so already, take a few minutes to figure out how to make the music on your phone come out of your car’s sound system. It will change your life. Next, come to grips with the latest traffic and navigation technology. Whatever you’re using now, update it. Just as no one waits for buses any more, nobody gets lost anymore either. If you do, you’re showing your age. Don’t fear the idea of using your phone or tablet screen as a de facto airline ticket. My wife had to walk me through this the first time, because I had no faith in the system. I imagined the gate attendant looking down at the barcode on my phone and saying, “What is that supposed to be?” It turns out they know what it is, and have done for years. Let technology revolutionize your pastimes. No matter how weird, obscure or old fashioned your particular hobby, there will be some kind of app designed to make it simpler and more enjoyable. There’s an app that identifies birds by song. There are even yoga apps. Don’t let me pigeonhole you - just type your hobby into your search , follow it with “app” and hit return. You shouldn’t draw a blank. To some extent your experience as someone born into a world before smart phones will help you navigate this brave new world of innovation. But with a lot of this stuff, you won’t know if it’s any use unless you try. So try. Try on glasses online. Watch the world through your cat’s eyes while you’re at work. Learn to fix your central heating pump on an app. It’s all out there, waiting for you. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a bus to catch in 38 seconds. ILLUSTRATION: TERENCE EDUARTE 64 THEJAGUAR
JAGUAR MAGAZINE celebrates creativity in all its forms, with exclusive features that inspire sensory excitement, from seductive design to cutting-edge technology.
The latest issue features a range of inspiring people: from Luke Jennings, creator of Villanelle, one of the most interesting television characters in recent times, to Marcus Du Sautoy, who ponders whether artificial intelligence is on the brink of becoming creative. Out on the road, we visit the US to explore the foodie heaven of Portland in a Jaguar I-PACE, take a Jaguar XE to the south of France to get a photographer’s viewpoint of the charming town of Arles, and much more.