169 karma · joined October 21, 2011
Additionally, all these web3 providers who are developing browser based solutions are trying to provide a psuedo app store to make their platforms more useful.
Some examples I've been playing with lately are:
https://www.cipherbrowser.com/
A competitor in this space is blockstack who is pushing the dApp model hard: https://blockstack.org
I agree that the desktop interface is stagnating - but the WIMP methodology is still bar none for discoverability and learnability, and if you're a company making money from the enterprise market, you will always be torn between desiring and pushing innovation and maintaining consistency.
However one thing I think we are doing now that is very interesting is attempting to reconcile the world of WIMP (desktop) with the FIM paradigm (finger icon menu - I made this up - ie mobile). Despite their similarities there is a HUGE challenge to meet the user's expectations when you are not fixed in one model.
There are a few different points of view I see in the industry - one is that people will get better at the touch language and our interfaces will evolve to support complex touch interactions. And some who think that we have achieved the optimal method for efficient interaction and and the optimal method for mobile quick interaction and that the two worlds should be separate. And still others who believe the best interaction method is still out there (gestures, voice, pen, natural language, ai etc.)
The view of windows 10 is that these two interaction paradigms or mental models support two semi formed methods of computing that are continually converging. The attempt is to create a UI that is adaptive to the users goal and should support: WIMP, FIM or a crossover between the two. The closest analogy is definitely responsive web design.
There are huge drawbacks to this such as complexity, and current user expectations. But also huge benefits such as computing that is less tied to a device or input method, and lets you choose the best tool for your task at hand.
I think it will be very interesting to see how the market reacts to this convergence, and if microsoft is able to communicate real user benefits from this type of experience. So far, it seems like simplicity is key.
As a tech geek and designer, I'm excited for the next 5-10 years of interaction design. I think a lot will change with new tech (AR/VR + natural language + ai) and the continual evolution of our existing UIs. I don't expect many major shift within already established interaction paradigms, but shifts that will influence them from outside technology.
edit: there are so many facets to this that I couldn't capture them all - but I wanted to comment on the card metaphor. To me it's a symptom of designers and devs looking for a metaphor that is able to cross between devices, screens and surfaces and escape the boundaries of the WIMP methodology. The fact that these types of metaphors are arising naturally in the world of software is a signal that the zerox/parc metaphor approach is still the best for mass market adoption. And seem to be the most well adopted to the environment we have created.
This is all part of their marketing campaign.
[0] http://9to5mac.com/2015/05/27/apples-proactive-to-take-on-go...
Another similar project lets people "see" with their tongues [2]
I definitely think using binaural (3d) audio could give users a much more complete and useful idea of what they are seeing so I wish you luck. Great Idea.
[0] http://www.ted.com/talks/david_eagleman_can_we_create_new_se...
[1] http://www.eagleman.com/research/sensory-substitution
[2] http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/device-lets-blind-...
In addition to helping implement the brand in the short term across teams and products, a redesign like this also gives the brand a clear foundation on which to grow and evolve, instead of being fragmented.
A huge part of being a designer in a large company comes down to figuring out how to design systems. The impact of adjusting 4px probably did occur in 10 min in a design program. But the conversations and thought that went into the overall system took far far longer and required a huge amount of knowledge of how systems like this are used and implemented.
I will admit there have been times I have been hesitant to say or post things, but more often than not it's fine. If there is something I don't want associated with me, I use an alternate account.
[offtopic] Wow I hate reading twitter threads, I wish there was an easier and better way to see related tweets and connect who is talking to who inline.
Also, when I added a feed, it wasn't immediately clear that I was making a folder because it grabs the name of the feed, I thought I had just added a standalone feed to my general list.
A few feature requests, feed importing, profile editing and a larger feed view (maybe collapse the sidebars?) also folders to be able to sort feeds you've added and the respective views.
edit: updated some things
How so? Don't 3D modelers need a platform to show their work just like graphic artists?
There is totally a place for this on the web, just because you use 3D models on the desktop doesn't mean they dont belong on the web in interactive form.
Have you ever been on a 3D modelling community site? There are amazing models, but you have to ask to download another artists work to really see it, and they likely wont give it to you. Imagine if all those artists (yes there are thousands of them) were given a platform to share their work in 3D??
Adding on to this:
What he hell do I do with my starred items now, it's literally the best collection of content I have curated in my life and I reference it all the time.
edit: petition to keep it open http://www.change.org/petitions/google-please-don-t-kill-goo...
I also think the killer feature is the ability to clearly filter your news feed by pictures, updates, people you follow etc. Fot instance, I DO want to be able to follow some celebrities and tv shows on facebook without them cluttering up my newsfeed too much. Now all I have to do is select my following list and I'm there. Ditto for friends + photos etc.
bit more pricey though.
The best thing is that it allows you to have the ESSENTIAL apps: phone, mail, browser, music and messages all in the bottom tray.