Long live the editor

Tweeted this pre-iPad, quietly hoping it would be realised when Stevie took to the stage. General disappointment followed however this prototype stayed with me. Firstly because it’s a fantastic example of prototyping an idea. Further to this and despite the interaction on display being nothing particularly new, it is an insightful glance into where publishing is headed. Look around you and you will see Kindles, iPhones, Androids and all manner of touch enabled devices stuck to people’s digits. Their presence becomes more ubiquitous each day.

An end in sight

Specifically to do with publishing the observation that wins for me in the below example is how a magazine is finishable. I like this, seems pretty obvious but the impact as a design idea is central to the UX and at odds with our daily experience of the web.

As a magazine atoms become bits the opportunity to provide exhaustive content is apparent however can be at odds with the audience need. As someone who subscribes to Wired’s printed publication I get that. I want the editors insight. In the brief time I have available to read through a magazine this skilled encapsulation of a theme and coverage of an interest area is essential. Not only does the editor as cultural explorer bring all this good stuff together they can give me the hooks to undertake future sorties myself and goes some way to damped the information overload endemic in daily net living.

^ Mag+ touch screen protoype