As virtual world viewers are now under scrutiny, other viewers have come under suspicion and this dissent has raised murmurings about viewer satisfaction too.
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| Second Life Viewer |
Above all things, the interface (or 'viewer') is the most important tool used in virtual worlds such as Second Life. But they must be easy to use.
Traditionally WYSIWIG technology and intuitive tools have succeeded. Windows superseded DOS, Cloud appears to be superseding Windows all down the ease-of-use path. So what about virtual worlds – where do they and their ‘viewers’ lead to?
Virtual worlds should note that in the past, usability has been the single factor for mass adoption and technology spread. After all, no one wants to spend many hours trying to figure out ‘how it works’ – they simply want to use the thing, as fast, cheap and easily as possible.
(‘fast, cheap and easy’ - borrowed from Martin Butler’s axioms in 2000).
Statistically Proven
An example is with the popular browsers. In July 2010 Firefox has 47% usage, while Explorer has 31%, Chrome 17%, Safari 3% and Opera 2%.
From these figures it can be seen that Firefox is the most popular – but why?
All these browsers are free, connectivity is at the same internet speed and some alternatives, such as Explorer, even come inbuilt within the system. So why do more people choose Firefox?
I am a Firefox user, I find it easy, intuitive, I can handle plug-ins easily and control how it works for me. That is why I choose Firefox.
Intuitively is important, makes it easy to use – the same goes for search engines: Google has 71% of market share, Yahoo has 14%, Bing has 9% and others share the rest. Why do people choose Google? - arguably it is the easiest to use.
What I am trying to point out here is that ease of use is everything.
To View Or Not To View?
Ease of use includes the right 'intuitive' name. A ‘viewer’ implies passivity simply by the choice of word. To the untrained mind, the user is perceived to be no more than an observer. Traditionally a ‘browser’ is understood to be simply that, a tool with which to browse.
Virtual worlds are based on interaction therefore a better word should be used to describe the interface. The interface name between the real user and the imaginary world should be sexier and more appropriate for this product type.
Ease of use starts at basics as fundamental as this. Any ideas?
Go Back To Basics
‘Viewer’ creators have to get the basics right first – or people will go elsewhere for a faster, easier and cheaper solution - which may also mean another virtual world. Simplicity first will gain a loyal following, additional functionality can always be added later.
The message I want to end with is for creators of ‘viewers’. Firefox and Google made products easy to use – add-ons like adverts came later.
2 comments:
While many will bang on about the number of new virtual spaces and their pro's and cons, not many are talking about the real issue which is "convergence" by means of "conduits" which are the viewers.
I will go further with the bold statement stand alone browsers are not the way forward, and any platform which see's itself as the next step will need to sit within the browser of the day without undue resource hunger.
Immerser might be a more accurate. But SL isn’t really immersive until you have viewed the 3d environment for a while, browsed or surfed a few sims, made a few “in-world” (online) friends and finally become immersed in the virtual world.
An interesting concept indeed, what a viewer is depends on your place on the learning curve. By the same token, couldn’t web browsers be termed web surfers.
If you have a childhood friend you called Bobby, you may tend to call him Bobby 20 or 30 years later. Even though new friends may call him Robert or Bob, you will probably always think of your friend as Bobby.
Would love to continue this intellectual exercise, but want am anxious to get in-world and go intaning :o)
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