Goodbye web ‘surfing’ – hello geo ‘gliding’?
I just ‘Stumbled upon’ another Google Earth ‘gliding’ interface called M3D Glider (also here) designed by a Netherlands based software firm – Medality (no current link available). This is only a few days after seeing Microsoft Vista’s embedded fly-through feature through Live Search. Thought it was worth a short post on the future of interfaces… especially the geo-browser!
Looking at the innovations in user interfaces I cannot imagine that we will be pointing and clicking with a mouse pad for too much longer. Touch seems to have all the momentum…
The most (recent) widely acclaimed interface has been Jeff Han’s multi-touch screen. It exploded in the blogosphere more than a year ago around a clip from NYU. Then things really heated up in the mainstream media after TED invited him to present and then posted a video online. Jeff Han is not the first or last designer to develop touch / gesture based interfaces. But his multi-point system is the most impressive to date and I’m happy for his success. (Just saw him featured in Fast Company..!)
(Watch the TED video!) Of all his tricks and potential apps- I am most amazed by the geo-based gliding. It fascinates me as an interface- and as a tool for getting people more aware of the planet and geography.
There is plenty of talk about the coming ‘geo-browsers’ and virtual world browsing. I am fascinated with the potential of layering information on physical environments then ‘flying’ through worlds in order to retrieve them. I think these interfaces will only be enhanced by these new multi-point touch screens- but I don’t expect that we’ll be doing it on 17” LCDs…
The Return of the Table?
Beyond the ‘cool factor’ of touch based interfaces – I see the convergence of two other digital trends that might compliment this new interface. Visualization and Collaboration systems are the new big things for start ups and VCs. My bet is that the ‘table’ will return to our homes and work spaces— giant projector or flat OLED panels that become the central gathering place for collaborative work. It would be great to see the end of always working alone at our computers and pulling up at a shared physical space to collaborate. Again, Jeff Han is not alone. Enterprise software companies have their eyes on this new software/hardware era. IBM, Accenture, and HP are all working on new interfaces. table.
Looking past the potential return of the table—could we see new handheld devices that emerge in this post –Wii era? Which companies might have the most to gain? e.g. 3DConnexion (A Logitech Company)
Related highlights from tags- http://del.icio.us/garrygolden/interface