Wordle is a very nice piece of software written by an IBM researcher as a personal project. Worlde creates word-clouds from user provided text or URL, I used it several times I find the resulting image beautiful most of the time, it is even possible to change color schemes and layout of the final image. I think the generated word cloud is quite useful as well, nothing to do with that stupid tag clouds that luckly are not so popular anymore.
Reading a post celebrating the genius of Steve Jobs, I discovered the concept of skeuomorphism. Wikipedia defines it as
a derivative object which retains ornamental design cues to a structure that was necessary in the original. Skeuomorphs may be deliberately employed to make the new look comfortably old and familiar, such as copper cladding on zinc pennies or computer printed postage with circular town name and cancellation lines.
On interaction design blogs there is a debate about the use of skeuomorphism in interface design, most of the criticism are referred to latest Apple IOS apps.
Dmitry Fadeyev argues that the use of skeuomorphism in interface design hampers innovation
I especially dislike the latest set of interfaces from Apple for the iPad. They look great, but they cling to the physical look far too much, losing the opportunity to create a fresh look in the process.
iBooks user interface
James Higgs finds a dichotomy between Apple minimalistic product design and the expression of purest kitsch found on many apps interface.
[...] how difficult can it be for someone, even a relative digital newcomer, to understand a list of books? Difficult enough that the only possible way they could understand it is to present them in a “wooden” bookshelf format?
James Higgs questions the need of leather trim in Find My Friends app
It’s undeniable that the latest IOS apps push too much on physical world resemblance.
I personally dislike this manneristic approach, I don’t find it neither beautiful nor useful but I understand that Apple products are designed for a vast audience, iPhone and iPad are contributing in bringing on-line many digital illiterates. I believe for these users the use of skeuomorphism makes perfectly sense.
At the same time most of mobile apps are not used for mere productivity, they are considered tiny videogames to have fun with. From this point of view skeumorphic interfaces helps in setting the mood. For example if you use a music mixer on iPhone the real DJ consolle look and feel helps in setting the context. The same thing happens with iBooks, Reminders and many other apps. The same concept is gaining field on Mac computers with the introduction of the app store and other IOS elements.
UI Touch CDJ Pro
Of course there are a lot of people using IOS devices in a productive way, the App store have plenty of options for them, just check the straightforward interface of Photoshop Express or the minimalist approach of Stanza, my favourite book reader.
Stanza book reader
I found the editorial on April 2012 issue of Creative Review quite inspiring. Patrick Burgoyne argues that Microsoft is a step ahead of Apple for what concern interface design. I already apreciated the unconventional approach used by Microsoft mobile interface, but I haven’t thought at the deeper conceptual switch behind it.
Still in 2012 interface design seems unable of getting rid of 1970′s desktop metaphor and other real world objects references (Check out Zooming out from the Desktop for more on the topic). You find a proof of it on buttons emboss effect used to give a feel of affordance, and on the design of most Mac and IOS icons and software interfaces.
ibooks interface looks like a realworld bookshelf
Do we still need references to real world obejcts in digital interfaces? According to Mike Kruzeiniski, from Windows phone design team, we don’t.
We don’t need to make an eBook look like a book for people to understand how to use it. The book isn’t the cover and binding, it’s the images and the text that make the story.
Jeff Fong, interface designer at Microsoft, tells Creative Review they get inspiration from print design, transport systems and infographics.
Transportation wayfinding was a major inspiration for us, it’s a clear, direct visual language that helps people navigate a complex environment.
In a market were Apple and Android fight each other for the best shiny and glossy interface I find Microsoft Metro a beautiful bold alternative.
MIT researcher Deb Roy gave an ispiring talk on TED about audio-video data analisys aimed at understanding language learning process.
Roy registered 90.000 hours of video and audio in every room of his home for 2 years since his son was born. The researcher analyzed the data with his group, Cognitive Machines at MIT Media Lab, and was able to track the steps his kid took to correctly pronounce some words. The data is presented as an amazing audio timelaps.
Deb Roy has now founded Bluefin Labs, a company where he does the same analisys with TV programmes linking TV information with on-line discussions and selling marketing reports to big brands and broadcasters.
Watch The birth of a word on TED
A Social-Media Decoder on Technology review