BLOW YOUR BROWSER IN A THOUSAND PIECES.

Koert van Mensvoort,1999 - Download PDF - Published in Mensvoort, Koert van. 2001. Blow your Browser. Interactions 8, 1 (Jan. 2001), p49. ISSN:1072-5520

The internet is an immense place. It is full of data, but how can I find the information that I want? I cannot select it all myself. I need data filters that separate information from noise. A browser is a data filter.

Super browsers are hard to use

Netscape and Microsoft are engaged in a browserbattle. Both companies release a new version of their browser nearly every year. Each new version is bigger and more complex. Netscape and Microsoft aim to build the ultimate browser. Their browsers are super data filters; huge multitask browsers that have the ambition to integrate all thinkable browser (filtering) functionality. It may seem logical and wise to put all browsing tasks in one single application. It certainly is, from a marketing point of view (we bring you the ultimate solution!). But is it also wise from a human perspective? I think not. Why not choose a specific filter depending on the need. When I look for coffee I will use a coffee filter, when I want to catch a fish, a fishing net will suit the job.

Specific hardware for specific tasks

All through their existence computers have been in short supply. In the past, an entire office or even an entire company shared a single computer. Nowadays, every person has his own computer at his service. In the near future, computers will be everywhere. Every application can have a computer of its own. Processing power and internet access will be basic means.

People utilize computers to carry out tasks. Would it not be better to use a separate computer for each task? The hardware and software interfaces can be completely designed for one single task, and therefore be more intuitive (ease of use). Of course not every thinkable task will get it's own specific hardware. Related tasks can be carried out within one task specification.

Swiss army knifes

Today's multimedia computers are too much like Swiss army knifes; they come in handy when you are on a survival journey and you cannot bring too much stuff (in the analog: processing power is expensive). But you will not use a Swiss army knife to spread butter over your daily bread. You will use a single task device known as the knife instead. The soup will be approached with a spoon.

The necessity to bind together all tasks in a single machine to limit hardware costs is gone. The necessity to increase ease of use by dividing tasks over separate interfaces and machines can now be granted.

End of the browserbattle

At this point, the browserbattle comes to an end. The concept of a single Super browser will be blown into a thousand pieces. In the near future, the internet will be operated on by a variety of small browsers. They do not perform all tasks, they will do one thing right. As a result of their clear-cut functionality these applications are easy to learn and use.

Multiple small single task browser will not just replace the current big browsers in the distant future. Instead, they are doing so at this very moment and this tendency will grow even stronger day by day. A Lot of browsers will be made by a lot of companies.

Building specific browsers requires specific knowledge and specific ideas. One single company can not dominate the diverse market of small browsers. Any company, big or small, should ask itself how its specific product knowledge could result in a specific small browser. Large companies can not monopolize ideas and they must not be allowed to monopolize the capability to implement ideas. They should concentrate on servicing low-level internet structure to third parties. The browserbattle ends with a blast. Be sure to pick up some pieces.

BIKEBROWSER

Position a browser on a bike; treat the bike like a mouse pointer. Information is filtered depending on the geographical location of the bike. The bikebrowser connects to the web by gsm. The display shows a map of immediate environment. From all the activities that are announced on the internet (sportsgames, exhibitions, parties, concerts, etc.) the bikebrowser filters out those taking place in the direct geographical surroundings. Browsing is done physically.

 

VIRTUAL SHOP FRIDGE

The internet is the shopping mall of the future. It is uncomfortable to purchase daily groceries from an office desktop computer. A shopping browser should be located where we need it, for instance on the door of a fridge. No milk left in the fridge? Close the door and place an order.

REALRADIO

Realradio is a radio enhanced with a microprocessor and a internet connection. Listen to your favorite internet radiostation on the beach.





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Blow your browser in a thousand pieces, 1999