UI interface design stagnation

[J T]

Interesting points. I do feel like a lot of the 'easy wins' have already been had, a lot of the common problems have been solved and computers are now really quite easy to use, especially as kids grow up with them now. I think back to how my dad (who didn't grow up with computers) would often be surprised at how easily I picked up using the Amiga and later our Windows 95 PC; and I can't help think how easily it will come to my kids.

I used to love digging deep into settings and fiddling with things, exploring, but now as I get a bit older and grumpier, I quite like the convergence in style - it means I don't have to relearn everything each time I get a new device. Frankly I don't have the time or energy to put in that big effort anymore and I really want the 'thing' to just work. I wonder how many in my age band feel similar now. Perhaps it's also because I have to mess around with different systems at work, that I don't really want to do it at home.

[Demon Cleaner]

I used to love digging deep into settings and fiddling with things, exploring, but now as I get a bit older and grumpier, I quite like the convergence in style - it means I don't have to relearn everything each time I get a new device. Frankly I don't have the time or energy to put in that big effort anymore and I really want the 'thing' to just work. I wonder how many in my age band feel similar now. Perhaps it's also because I have to mess around with different systems at work, that I don't really want to do it at home.

I couldn't explain it any better.

[J T]

When I got a new phone (a Samsung flip), even after the back-up transfer process I spent a little bit of time making all the screens and settings work like my previous phone (a non-flippy Samsung).

[Harrison]

Is it one of the fold out dual screen phones? Any good?

With main systems having a generic UI it does have a big advantage of everyone just knowing how it works. Apple and Windows do still like to tinker with their UI with each new Desktop OS. But iOS and Android have been fairly cemented now with the core of their OS UIs. You can pick up most of their mobile devices from the last few years and know what to expect.

But for something more than just the core UI I like to see some risks and experiements in interactivity so the end user still needs to explore and discover. I was thinking of UI the most in terms of webdesign when I wrote the original post. The majority of websites are quite generic. Functional, but without much soul or interest.

Also I still don't like actually web browsers. I've yet to find one where the actually progtam UI is 100% helpful. Something normally annoys me in how they work.

[J T]

Is it one of the fold out dual screen phones? Any good?

No its the 'clamshell' style one - when unfolded it's approximately a 'regular' slab, but when folded up it's a nice compact almost-square. There's a little outer display that can show basic info and notifications. Originally I'd hoped that being able to screen/dismiss notifications etc would cut down on the time I spend on the phone - in some but not all cases this has worked.

I like it, it feels cool to fold it shut and a lot of people say it's cool (yeah a bit vain but it's nice sometimes to stand out). It fits in the pocket nicely and is generally satisfying to use.

Being able to shoot pics with the hinge slightly folded means I can get nice 'low angle' shots comfortably.

The battery life isn't great though, and the factory-fitted screen protector film has cracked and lifted in places but the actual screen proper is just fine. The crease is certainly 'feelable' and in some settings quite visible but it also has close to zero impact on usability. In fact, at times I found running my finger along the crease strangely satisfyingly tactile.

Samsung's UI is quite nice, pretty unobtrusive and decent functionality. Every now and then there's an annoying thing where it'll ask which app to use, and in the instance of something basic like entering a new persons phone number.... of course there is 'contacts' (the google one) and 'contacts' (the samsung one). Minor, but it could confuse some people i guess.

The majority of websites are quite generic. Functional, but without much soul or interest.

I feel that way about much of the internet now. Part of that may be because we were there when it was a 'wild west' of unbridled content and innovation. It's very homogenised now, very little risk taking as corporations and individuals are concerned about building (or maintaining / protecting) their 'brand'

There's a lot of convergence too, see the 'youtube thumbnail face'

[Harrison]

You hit the nail on the head. Not much risk taking because everything is corporate and about protecting IP.

But that removes innovation, meaning nothing evolves. Sometimes you need risk takers to move forward.