I have just come back from the Rix centre, where I just enjoyed a very interesting afternoon. One of their interns there, John, is about to go back to the states, and I was asked to help interview him about his experiences. I found myself talking to a fascinating fellow: a technical sort of guy, John designs and creates Ipad apps which help people with learning difficulties interact with medical professionals in various ways. He clearly knew his subject back to front, and our conversation ranged from the growing ubiquity of Ipads to the way in which London differs from cities in america. Concerning the former, I was struck by how Ipads seem to be used for just about everything these days, from music creation to communication. As Apple addicts saw last night, Apple is now creating some truly interesting stuff; but what John pointed out to me is that the ipad is also great for third-party designers. Ipad apps are apparently very easy to make and customise: to hear him talk, it sounded like the perfect tool capable of meeting any need. I daresay L would have loved talking to him. It is a pity John is leaving for the states so soon as I’d love to talk to him more, and perhaps put one or two of the reservations I’ve heard to him about how the Ipad is becoming the default solution to any problem, to the detriment of more tailored, built-for-purpose devices. I am, like many people, becoming more and more convinced that apple is the way forward, but can’t let myself forget that other operating systems still exist. Yet I worry slightly that that is the way things seem to be going.