4 ms·

Hmm, I'm going swim against the current and say I like the fact that it's called a browser. I like this because it is a browser, albeit not a web browser. I t

Hmm, I'm going swim against the current and say I like the fact that it's called a browser. I like this because it is a browser, albeit not a web browser. I think this is exactly what's missing from blockchain-derived technologies: a simple human interface to remote resources. More to the point, calling this thing a browser anchors it firmly into a well-known context. This should be useful for explaining it to our parents.

paulddraper 10y ago
Agreed. I'm looking at the Apache LDAP browser right now. Not a spec of HTML anywhere.
- pimlottc 10y ago
  "Apache Directory Studio™: The Eclipse-based LDAP browser and directory client" Sounds like that is a tool meant for technical users, e.g. IT staff, though, not general users.
  - omginternets 10y ago
    I think the point still stands: calling something a browser implies that it's used for browsing. Most people will immediately think of a web browser, but it's still useful to frame things as "a browser, but not for the web. For something else".
  - paulddraper 10y ago
    Is this not HN????
    - sanswork 10y ago
      If HN is the only market for this product then this would make sense as an argument but the OP was talking about the general public.
pimlottc 10y ago
> More to the point, calling this thing a browser anchors it firmly into a well-known context. This should be useful for explaining it to our parents. I think if I told my mom this was a browser, she would be confused to see something that looks more like her text message than a web page.
- omginternets 10y ago
  I'm going to gently accuse you of intellectual dishonesty, here ;) In the phrasing you chose, you imply that it's a web browser -- this is the source of the hypothetical confusion. Now try this: "Mom, this is a lot like a web browser (i.e. firefox, chrome, etc) but it's not for web pages. It's for a different kind of content". Surely you'll admit this a helpful description...
  - majewsky 10y ago
    Not at all. Non-experts will always consider only the outward appearance rather than the technical structure, since the latter is basically invisible to them. (Compare for exampl how hackers are depicted on mass media. Same principle.)
    - omginternets 10y ago
      >Non-experts will always consider only the outward appearance rather than the technical structure Exactly, and this thing behaves (outwardly) a lot like a web browser. It's just not browsing the web. The description is useful for hilighting the similarities between both artefacts, mostly because Token is, stricto-sensu, a browser!
      - DKnoll 10y ago
        Not to be patronising, but you should try tech support. You'll quickly understand why arguments like this are futile.
  - matt_kantor 10y ago
deleted 10y ago
[deleted]

paulddraper 10y ago

Agreed. I'm looking at the Apache LDAP browser right now. Not a spec of HTML anywhere.

pimlottc 10y ago
"Apache Directory Studio™: The Eclipse-based LDAP browser and directory client" Sounds like that is a tool meant for technical users, e.g. IT staff, though, not general users.
- omginternets 10y ago
  I think the point still stands: calling something a browser implies that it's used for browsing. Most people will immediately think of a web browser, but it's still useful to frame things as "a browser, but not for the web. For something else".
- paulddraper 10y ago
  Is this not HN????
  - sanswork 10y ago
    If HN is the only market for this product then this would make sense as an argument but the OP was talking about the general public.

pimlottc 10y ago

> More to the point, calling this thing a browser anchors it firmly into a well-known context. This should be useful for explaining it to our parents. I think if I told my mom this was a browser, she would be confused to see something that looks more like her text message than a web page.

omginternets 10y ago
I'm going to gently accuse you of intellectual dishonesty, here ;) In the phrasing you chose, you imply that it's a web browser -- this is the source of the hypothetical confusion. Now try this: "Mom, this is a lot like a web browser (i.e. firefox, chrome, etc) but it's not for web pages. It's for a different kind of content". Surely you'll admit this a helpful description...
- majewsky 10y ago
  Not at all. Non-experts will always consider only the outward appearance rather than the technical structure, since the latter is basically invisible to them. (Compare for exampl how hackers are depicted on mass media. Same principle.)
  - omginternets 10y ago
    >Non-experts will always consider only the outward appearance rather than the technical structure Exactly, and this thing behaves (outwardly) a lot like a web browser. It's just not browsing the web. The description is useful for hilighting the similarities between both artefacts, mostly because Token is, stricto-sensu, a browser!
    - DKnoll 10y ago
      Not to be patronising, but you should try tech support. You'll quickly understand why arguments like this are futile.
- matt_kantor 10y ago

deleted 10y ago

[deleted]