Dear Increment readers,

As we were wrapping up production on this issue, our managing editor, Rebecca, and I were reflecting on how central mobile devices are to our daily experiences—and just how much work, thought, and care has gone into their incredible evolution over the last decades.

I can vividly recall my fascination and awe as, once upon a time, I watched my dad set up his first PalmPilot. A few years later, my first mobile phone felt just as magical and mysterious. Sure, it didn’t always “just work” (at the time, reception was often spotty at best), but it held promise—it felt like the future was literally in my hands. Each subsequent device I used was stronger, faster, sleeker, the hardware increasingly modern and fine-tuned. The experience got more tailored. And the apps being built defied the bounds of imagination. Mobile was not just a convenience; it was changing our lives.

Today, the myriad phones, tablets, and other mobile devices used throughout the world exist within many technological and societal contexts, with different designs and qualities shaping how we use, rely on, build for, and are impacted by them.

We’ve dedicated this issue to exploring the depth and complexities of mobile development, and how we can make mobile experiences more usable, accessible, and equitable. Join us as we consider how mobile has gotten to where it is today—and where it could journey to next.

Sid Orlando
Editor in Chief
@ohreallysid

Sent from my phone. Please excuse typos.