On the Perfection of Books
Could the ideal user interface be the one you’re holding in your hands?
In a world of mediating machines, the substance of our lives is founded on the vagaries of user interfaces. The overriding wisdom on interface design suggests they should be efficient, simple and above all, invisible, which only makes them more insipid. The Facebook “like” button, autocorrect, the logic of control pads, touch-screen gestures—each marks a choreography of attention and meaning. This is what comes with technology: A nail needs a hammer, and even a hammer has a handle. But as our nails become networked interpersonal trigger zones, those handles take on a dizzying complexity.
