New Techie Toy!
My friend Dario has come out with a great new type application — literally! For people who are Apple iPhone and iPod-Touch users, he has just debuted a new app.
I know Dario’s work — as an author, a researcher, a speaker, and an innovator in the type field. He relies on the multiple models of type (I believe he’s the one who created the term “triangulation” to describe the way we work with type models), so I KNOW this app is much much more than the mere *dichotomies* of the MBTI. It won’t be labeling people J’s and P’s and “Thinkers” and “Feelers” or any of that nonsense. Dario’s products are always solidly grounded in an enrolling and ethical use of type.
Alright, I confess. I was invited to beta test it, and I got really excited when I was playing with it.
The best part of the app (for me, anyway) was the “key words” feature. Often I will be on the phone with a client, and I know their type pattern, but I’m suddenly at a loss for words to light them up and connect them to their values. This app puts a selection of words right at my fingertips, so I can begin speaking the client’s “language” and bringing them back to themelves and do great coaching from there.
I admit it — I think Dario isn’t charging nearly enough for this app, given how many fantastic features it has! After all, it dips into ALL the models in order to provide information to the user. Dario’s even written a simple assessment so that you can try guess-typing somebody “on the fly”! So I’m appalled that this powerhouse of an app is going for something like $3. 
One cool feature of this app is how it will compare two personalities (yours and your client’s, perhaps? or your blind date?) and show you where the pitfalls and synergies lie. Wouldn’t it be great to know from the first meeting where you are or aren’t compatible? 
Dario’s site describing the product may be found here: http://www.personalityapps.com
For people who have the iPhone or iPod Touch, you will find a big button you can click on to go to the app store. Others who don’t have iPhone or iPod Touch can ignore that button and still read about the app and what it does. (I’ve heard some people say they might trade in their Blackberry for an iPhone just so they can buy this app and use it!)
I’m bouncing off the walls about this — did you notice? I can only say I wish *I’d* thought of it first!
Needless to say, if you buy it and start using it, I would *love* to hear what you think! 
I coach people to identify and develop their natural personality strengths in order to maximize their potential.
July 1st, 2009 at 10:43 pm
My pastor (knowing of my studies in type of late) pointed me to this very app and (being a big Apple fan) suggested this might be a good reason to get an iPhone or an iPod Touch. While my main use of my new iPod Touch is for storing music from iTunes, I confess I specifically got the iPod Touch so I could use this app. I LOVE the app. I’ve already tried it out on some of my friends. Some understood the questions better than others, however; some language about one’s preferences that’s apparently meant to be universal actually confuses some people. Even I have had trouble with some questions.
The app doesn’t go quite as fully into interactive styles as I’d like (even though it touches upon even these), nor into all eight CPs for any one type. It also makes three errors (even in the current version, I believe) for the “Cutting Edge” (Tertiary) processes in three types (I sent you a note on that already). I hope that Dario can get that bug fixed soon! That said, I find it useful just to examine and meditate on how the different types approach the objective and subjective worlds. I look at some types and say, “Yes, so-and-so who I know well is very much like this and not like the possible alternatives.” That’s interesting by itself.
July 18th, 2009 at 6:38 pm
Hi John,
Thank you for your feedback. It’s truly appreciated as we keep improving the app. The three errors you mention have been fixed.
In the future, folks will be able to store the assessment results for future reference. And as you mention, I’d like to add more about interaction styles.
Dario N.