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When the internet started to boom there was, in some circles, a rush to do what others were yet to do; an artistic flurry to produce something creative and unique with this new canvas – almost to create interactive art. This may be the reason Flash was so popular for so long; it provided users with an easy opportunity to create something with some tactility.
However the same quality that made that program (and others like DreamWeaver) so popular was the very same one that enabled the least tech-savvy around to effortlessly spew the contents of their psyche onto the web.
Fortunately time moved on, the flash-mobbers buggered off to destroyed MySpace, and it became apparent (to most) that the internet was not the platform for this type of self expression. It was proven time and again that there are certain conventions that web designers must follow to create the best experience for their users. This isn’t to say that there isn’t a place for self-expresion and experimentation on the web – its those unique sparks of creative genius – the “one-offs” that push the rest of us step further – however these are the exceptions… and always should be.
And things plodded along like this for a while…
Until some bright spark brought out the smartphone. If I’m being totally honest what I want to say is “Until some bright spark brought out the iPhone.” Because with the iPhone (and then the iPad) came Apps (… oh, you glorious apps) and then all the rules went out of the window. This was… this is… the place for that creative expression.
These touch-screen devices, crafted by Zeus himself, blur the line between PC and games console and with that comes a whole new expectation of experience. The user no-longer expects nav bars at the top and content to mundanely load in place.
We love it when we can scroll through our music library in ‘cover-flow’ (whether or not we use the function is another matter) and when pages flip over in iBooks. These are what I like to call ‘o-moments’ - the aspects of an app that cause the user’s lips to purse, their eyes to light up and a sigh of excitement to inadvertently escape their mouths.
There is so much to be said about this (involving game theory, sensory appeal, flow and a number of other psychological concepts – that are very interesting but can be a little dry) so I think I’ll leave it for now and come back to it in another post at another time. However, the key point I hope I’ve covered is that apps provide us with an opportunity to create something extraordinary… and with that in mind I feel it is time to introduce my 1st ever App Of Honour – a semi-regular blog (I hope to remember) to do that focuses on the apps that cause the most o-moments.
App Of Honour #1 – LinkedIn
LinkedIn had an app. It was alright. To be honest there really wasn’t a great deal of difference between it and Facebook’s (and now Google+’s) App. It was all icons and lists and feeds and text and… well, just not at all special.
And then just over a week ago I opened up the app only to be confronted with a login screen. LinkedIn – the sneaky blighters – had released an update… and it was good – really good – so good it made me want to tell people about it… so good it made me want to write a blog just about how good it is.
But why is it so good? I’ll tell you.
The landing page…
…looks different. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve opened up an app to be disappointed by the same old recycled layout. Come on people – you’ve been given a blank canvas to play with – do something original. In a market where there are so many social networks out there lounging around on the web each with their own identical apps it refreshing to be greeted with something new from the off – a duel feed.
That’s right LinkedIn have used their noggins and realised that we people – the users of LinkedIn – have brains of our own. That we may, in all probability, not be completely lost if each piece of information isn’t compartmentalised into its own section. What’s more it’s interesting. There’s only so many times I can hear that someone is rewriting their digital strategy before I want to rip my eyes out. Now, however, I am confronted with some real news… something interesting… something that might actually make a difference to the way I operate as a human being.
And for that, LinkedIn, I thank you.
The menu…
…is tactile and personal. These are, after all, devices we touch. How can it be that so many apps refuse to act as if we’ve touched them? Here a simple tap of the bar at the top causes the page to shoot backwards and settle in place with a bounce. It’s simple but it feels like there’s actually been an interaction there and, as we know, it’s the little things that make all the difference.
What’s more LinkedIn have abandoned the mono-toned icons that have become so synonymous with web 2.0 and replaced them with something far more interesting, dynamic and, well, fun. The update button is a pile of papers, topped with a screenshot YOUR updates feed. Similarly the inbox is a stack of mail, the groups: a stack of folders and your profile: a nametag, each adorned with a screen shot of your personalised version of that area.
These nuances, whilst showing that LinkedIn appreciate we may have some intellect of our own, also allow the user to quickly associate the activities taking place within the app with the real world. Think of that – an app, nay – a social network – with real world purpose!
But more than that…
…it’s simply good. Maybe its because its different to the rest. Maybe its because when I visited the menu I thought “why has no-else done this before?” It might be that I smiled when the pages bounced or that I loved that the personalised icons made the app feel like it was my own, or even that I learnt something new from a news article at the top of the landing page. Whatever it was I fell in love with this app.
LinkedIn have always been practitioners of increasing user participation. Whether it’s informing you how complete your profile is (teasing you with an unachieved, yet easily reachable, 5% increase) or emailing you with updates from your groups; LinkedIn has the art of roping their members into interacting with their service down. This app, to me, is another example of how LinkedIn has seduced me into using their services, for now – when I feel like being a sociable little geek – I will sure as hell be opening my LinkedIn app.
About the author
Check out the dixign marathon blog. | You should follow him on twitter.