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December 26, 2007
The Year of User Interfaces
I love Jeff, but I often disagree with him. And Facebook is one of those places. As he sings its praises, I look for the meta message. Besides Facebook, we have Ebay/Skype looming on the edge of innovation, Google’s Android and perhaps the best marketed - Apple with their continuing array of devices.
What is this all about? Web 2.0? I don’t think so. Talking to the widget wonks is like only watching the boys half of the beauty and the geek series.
However, if you only spend time on the app side, you will only be looking at the pretty face and not the underlying genius that makes it valuable.
And the value is in the understanding of how people use things. And trust me this deserves a museum of its own. The ability to make something visual appealing while you use it is art and science blended together. The Sidekick’s flip of the screen above the keyboard. The iPhone’s web browser going from horizontal to vertical based on position. These are subtle design strategies that needed advocates.
Everyone one of these companies have design decisions looming that will either make them “kewl” or will cool the market hype. Lets talk about what looms for them all.
Apple - has the “kewl” factor and good will in spades right now. But it’s got pressure to open up and let others play in its carefully controlled experience. And frankly not many of us are Apple like in our design skills. So they have the most to lose.
Ebay/Skype - probably has the best situation. After the battering its been taking from so many sides small wins will have great celebration. Their big headache is keeping the power of their presence engine and heavy stack working on wireless devices that are not particularly friendly. Additionally, a reworking of the strategic thinking they started almost 3 years ago is in order now that Apple and Google have changed the game at the edge.
Google, probably has the hardest navigating to do. Being the search mavens are expected to make the world safe for an open environment. Its hard to imagine making it easy to navigate an environment where every app wants to be listed first. My expectation is that the Google phone when delivered will be more screen than phone. And these days that may not be a bad thing.
As for Facebook first my warning... As Dr. Frank-N-furter said to Janet in Rocky Horror Picture Show “ I did not make him for you ”. So here is my view of the issues for facebook. Navigation. Not only the Navigation of all the people adding to the mix with apps and asynchronous broadcast messages Navigating good will into real value. My friend who loves the fact that 75,000 subscribers have joined his service needs to see that volume translate into real value.
It’s going to be a fun year for spectators like me.
Posted by carl at December 26, 2007 04:39 PM