On the Surface
Posted: December 8, 2008 Filed under: surface Comments OffWe’re lucky enough to have a Microsoft Surface where I work (Conchango). The reaction to it amongst staff, clients and – it has to be said – the cleaners has been most interesting.
For those who’ve not seen it, the form factor of the new device is a horizontal, apparently touch-sensitive screen mounted on top of a rectangular plinth that keeps it about 1/2 a meter off the ground. The only way to control the device (when running in proper mode) is using the screen itself. To worry the cleaners, the whole thing sort of glows in standby mode or features a rippling water pool. Once in fully-on mode, the device has a number of applications (still mostly at demo stage) which allow the user to interact with music, photos and other graphically-produced objects.
Of course, the Apple zealots mutter, ‘it’s a large iPhone’. Others are more concerned with its unmistakable tableness, although I’m pleased to say they’ve stopped calling it ‘the table’ (team email today: ‘Big pile of cakes. For Anni’s birthday. On the surface.’). Others concentrate on it’s computerness (the ‘a computer in a table’ brigade). It runs on Vista you know… and so on.
I think the truth is a little more exciting.
This is Richard’s daughter, Bel trying it out:
Bel is four years old, and is already a fan of the Cbeebies site but find it difficult to navigate with a mouse. And what did she think of the Surface?Well, of course, she didn’t think it was a large iPhone. She also didn’t think of it as a computer. She just thought of it as a collection of objects to interact with. In one of those supercute things that three and four year olds do automatically, she even wiped he finger on her trousers when changing colour in the drawing application.
On iPhone, Windows 7 and the million other devices that will arrive on the shelves of Amazon over the coming year, multi-touch is an additional input style to complement (or replace) other input methods and devices.
For Surface, the opportunity to try something new has a few important additional elements:
The first sounds like nothing but is actually quite important. The fact that the device is horizontal forces us to reconsider much within the design space. In particular, it breaks down the concept of orientation, and it makes it much more relaxing to operate it with your hands directly (rather than via a second device like keyboard or mouse). Operating vertical touch screens by touch is tiring, and there is a limited range of interaction.
The second is not well explored yet in demo applications but is potentially the biggest shift – and that is that the device can (indeed: should) be operated by more than one user simultaneously. Traditional computers discourage this by their nature (one mouse, one keyboard, vertical screen best viewed head on). Yet how often do we collaborate on one or more machines? How often have you turned your monitored to share with someone else in the office?
And yes, it’s quite big. And that helps it to attract people in to the device.
Thirdly, because the interface is driven by cameras (not capacitive as with the iPhone), it can recognise certain objects that are placed upon it. This functionality is limited at the moment, but still it pushes our imagination. External, physical objects introduced to a virtual, computer generated space can create natural reaction, and open up possibilities for those objects that didn’t exist when they were in real life. We’ve used this to extend the properties of a physical wine bottle (to add tasting notes). We’ve seen the ability to turn a coffee cup into an air hockey paddle.
Of course, Surface points to a future of ubiquitous computing - a sort of dystopian blade-runner fantasy full of shouting billboards and walls that you type on. But actually we’re already starting to to be able to use the device to breakdown this thinking. Rather than superimpose computer-type experiences into our physical spaces, the opportunity is to extend our physical spaces using computing power. And it can be by small increments. Whatever the best application for Surface in 2009 looks like, I can tell you one thing: it won’t look like a Windows or Apple application. It will be seemless and natural, it will confuse and blend physical and virtual. It will encourage multiple people to use it at once. And you’ll be able to put a big pile of cakes on it.
And you can’t say that of your iPhone, your computer or your coffee table.
(Let me know if you’d like to come and see it at our offices).
Point and click
Posted: December 8, 2008 Filed under: iPhone Comments OffHere’s a question for iPhone (and iPod Touch) crazies. How many input methods are there for your beloved biblical telephone?
1? - it’s the screen. The Lord Jobs has made it so. ANd it’s rally easi to tyd0 on.
2? - oh, you’re counting the button. Yes that is a very important accesibility device.
3? - 3? Because it’s mutitouch. Oh god I think I’ve missed one. Is it the hold key, or are you counting the volume control on the new ones?
Well, of course, the third one – for us interface geeks out there – is the microphone. And it’s interesting to see that Google has released an app to allow you to search that way http://news.cnet.com/8301-17939_109-10092525-2.html (as long as you have a North American accent). Perhaps the ‘steep learning curve’ for the keyboard was reducing the number of adwords they were getting out.
Where’s the party?
Posted: December 5, 2008 Filed under: obama Comments OffHere’s a bit written for a magazine (.net) who ended up using ony a few words of it).
There’s been a lot written about how Barack Obama raised the funds that got him elected to the Whitehouse last month, with the total running at over $650m (compare that to a combined total of $696m for both candidates in 2004). Symbolically just as important as the huge volumes of cash was where it came from. Nearly half of the funds raised came from donations of under $200 (making up a staggering 93% of donors). And how did he do that? By using the internet.
Raising huge amounts of money allowed Obama to outspend his opponent in media time, including a 30 minute infomercial broadcast at primetime on multiple networks just a week before the polls. It allowed him to compete in traditionally Republican strongholds (many of which he ended up winning), and it allowed him to create a hugely effective on-the-ground campaign organisation. Perhaps most significantly, having 3.1 million donors means having 3.1 million active and vocal supporters who, in a very tangible sense, became part of the cause.
The millions who joined in the campaign through social networks and the its own websites (whether or not they gave money), created enormous momentum; allowing an unknown candidate to battle against the established Washington elite. The intelligent use of the network allowed the Obama campaign to shift its emphasis from traditional ‘command and control’, and to begin enabling groups and precincts to self organise. Given the right channels, the enthusiasm could simply flow. With the result being the huge crowds which came to see Obama speak across the US.
McCain and the Republicans saw the internet as a fundraising Channel. Obama saw it as a way to build and maintain a personal political movement. That’s a seismic shift.
Fundraising and race may make great headlines today but in the long term the Obama presidency will likely be remembered more for rethinking the nature of political organisation itself.
Obama’s presidency will defined as much by his independence from his party and the media, as the policies he pursues. More than any president in history, he has both the opportunity and the will to listen to and speak to his constituents directly, without needing to engage armies of pollsters or the press corp. And he also has the ability to speak independently of the Democratic party, allowing a more bipartisan approach and clearer, simpler relationship with the electorate.
Take for example change.gov – the website to understand individual voters’ visions of change during the transition – or the email sent to supporters before giving his historic acceptance at Grant Park:
Tom –
I’m about to head to Grant Park to talk to everyone gathered there, but I wanted to write to you first.
We just made history. And I don’t want you to forget how we did it.
You made history every single day during this campaign — every day you knocked on doors, made a donation, or talked to your family, friends, and neighbors about why you believe it’s time for change…. We have a lot of work to do to get our country back on track, and I’ll be in touch soon about what comes next.
The most remarkable thing about that email is how unsurprising it seems for a newly elected president to whip off a quick missive to the millions who supported his campaign. Imagine the hundreds of thousands of party faithful, iPhones in hand, who would have started beeping before Obama even took the stage.
How long before we see the US’s first truly independent president, running without party endorsement or organisation, a new stage for the concept of imperial presidency.
Hopefully, Obama and his nascent administration can continue in office what they have started on the campaign and we will start to see a vision of democracy which is worth exporting.
[UPDATE: really good post on topic of governing and consensus - but can't the point be that many supporters want Obama to lead but to listen and to explain himself]
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