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The Universal Intuitive Interface

Sam Vaknin, Ph.D. - 7/26/2007

The history of technology is the history of interfaces - their successes and failures. The GUI (the Graphic User Interface) - which replaced cumbersome and unwieldy ttext-based interfaces (DOS) - became an integral part of the astounding success of the PC.

Yet, all computer interfaces hitherto share the same growth-stunting problems. They are:

1. Non-transparency - the workings of the hardware and software (the "plumbing") show through;
2. Non-ubiquity - the interface is connected to a specific machine and, thus, is non-transportable;
3. Lack of friendliness (i.e., the interfaces require specific knowledge and specific sequences of specific commands).

Even the most "user-friendly" interface is way too complicated for the typical user. The average PC is hundreds of times more complicated than your average TV. Even the VCR - far less complex than the PC - is a challenge. How many people use the full range of a VCR's options?

The ultimate interface, in my view, should be:

1. Self-assembling - it should reconstruct itself, from time to time, fluidly;
2. Self-recursive - it should be able to observe and analyze its own behavior;
3. Learning-capable - it should learn from its experience;
4. Self-modifying - it should modify itself according to its accumulated experience;
5. History-recording;
6. Media indifferent (it should span and encompass your hard disk, movable media, network, and the Web).

It must possess a "picture of the world" (a-la artificial intelligence) - preferably including itself, the user, and their cumulative interactions.

It must regard all other "intelligent" machines in its "world" (the user being only one of them) as its "clients".

It must, therefore, be able to communicate with them in a natural language.

Its universe must be seamless (e.g., the physical or even system location of files or hardware or software or applets or servers or communication lines or information and so on - will be irrelevant).

It will probably be peer-orientated (no hierarchy).

I call it "the intuitive universal interface".

The new media technologies were designed by engineers and programmers - not by marketing people and users. The interface of the future will reflect the needs, wishes, limitations, and skills of users. This is a revolutionary shift and a natural outcome of the takeover of the Internet by governments and bottom line orientated corporations. The interface of the future will seek to enhance usage and enrich the user's experience - not to win technological beauty contest. It is a welcome transition - and long overdue.

APPENDIX - The Search Engines of the Future

The search engines of the future are likely to offer the following:

1. A seamless search of your hard disk, movable media, network, and the Web using a common interface and the same dialog.

2. Localized search results with relevant advertising using geolocation services.

3. Alerts in search results regarding HTML pages that execute malicious code (spyware, adware, Trojan downloaders) when you visit them.

4. WHOIS records specific to the domains in search results.