4 ms·

That part about information being condensed down into a tiny form factor (a smartphone screen) hits hard as a frontend web developer: > The diminutive size of

by afry1 5y ago

That part about information being condensed down into a tiny form factor (a smartphone screen) hits hard as a frontend web developer: > The diminutive size of the device’s screen further compacted all forms of information. The instant notifications and infinite scrolls that became the phone’s default design standards required that all information be rendered in a way that could be taken in at a glance, further blurring the old distinctions between types of content. I've really struggled with this concept when building out apps and tools that have to fit in the form factor of a smartphone. Some things are just too complicated or too nuanced to express with little buttons on a little screen. Sometimes it's an interesting constraint to work within, but more often than not I feel like I'm leaving so much on the table when it comes to functionality and usability.

redmen 5y ago
I too feel this deeply. Sometimes I think our phones have given much more power to the companies that have the algorithms, since there is less space for anything, which means companies that can create a good touchscreen keyboard, or a search bar, etc are the ones who win, not the ones who build a deeper experience. Everything is hidden away from us. I also sometimes think that this is another reason our phones are making us dumber and more fragile. We have become used to having everything done for us.
- Forgeties79 5y ago
  >Our phones are making us dumber I never really liked this very generalized take. My phone has been amazing for learning how to fix things (and typically quickly). That would’ve never happened if I needed hard copy manuals/books (which almost no one ever has around when they need it). I am able to find many quality media sources that offer different levels of quality and perspectives, as opposed to just keeping cable news on all day to tell me what to think and feel, all curated by one entity. I learned how to search and identify results I need or want, which is a skill in and of itself. Phones do not simply make us dumber. They make some things harder, some things easier, and of course, require responsibility on our part.
kevmo314 5y ago
I absolutely love this constraint and I believe this is where all the complexity of frontend derives from. When I hear someone believe that frontend is easy, which nowadays is not as common, I always think yeah maybe on an infinite-dimensional canvas it's easy. It definitely can feel like I have to leave something on the table but the real trick is understanding which pieces of functionality are okay to leave out. :)
Forgeties79 5y ago
You’re really articulating something I’m having a hard time articulating myself. I think it’s why I’ve been gravitating towards audiobooks, podcasts, media services that offer their articles as audio, etc. I have always used audio as a major point for information, but I’ve been really turning to it lately for anything of substance. As someone with ADHD multitasking is in my blood (obviously this is different for everyone but that’s how mine often manifests). The digital age is in some ways incredible for someone like me, because I am able to pick up things that fall through the cracks at speeds I could never do previously. Search functions are my lifeblood. But as you’re discussing, it’s hard to distinguish between different sorts of content now, which is very important for someone like me. I need to kind of know what I am signing up for, and I don’t need everything to be designed for speed reading or quick glances. Audio formats don’t really fall into this problem. They are the links they are, and it is right in front of you. It is a known, concrete quality. The only thing you can do is change the speed at which it plays back, which is an entirely different thing. I don’t know maybe I’m a little off base here, but something about what you wrote just made me think about that and really click into place why I’ve been listening to so much audio contact and reading so much less. I need to fire up my kindle paper white a little probably.

by afry1 5y ago

redmen 5y ago

I too feel this deeply. Sometimes I think our phones have given much more power to the companies that have the algorithms, since there is less space for anything, which means companies that can create a good touchscreen keyboard, or a search bar, etc are the ones who win, not the ones who build a deeper experience. Everything is hidden away from us. I also sometimes think that this is another reason our phones are making us dumber and more fragile. We have become used to having everything done for us.

Forgeties79 5y ago
>Our phones are making us dumber I never really liked this very generalized take. My phone has been amazing for learning how to fix things (and typically quickly). That would’ve never happened if I needed hard copy manuals/books (which almost no one ever has around when they need it). I am able to find many quality media sources that offer different levels of quality and perspectives, as opposed to just keeping cable news on all day to tell me what to think and feel, all curated by one entity. I learned how to search and identify results I need or want, which is a skill in and of itself. Phones do not simply make us dumber. They make some things harder, some things easier, and of course, require responsibility on our part.

kevmo314 5y ago

I absolutely love this constraint and I believe this is where all the complexity of frontend derives from. When I hear someone believe that frontend is easy, which nowadays is not as common, I always think yeah maybe on an infinite-dimensional canvas it's easy. It definitely can feel like I have to leave something on the table but the real trick is understanding which pieces of functionality are okay to leave out. :)

Forgeties79 5y ago

You’re really articulating something I’m having a hard time articulating myself. I think it’s why I’ve been gravitating towards audiobooks, podcasts, media services that offer their articles as audio, etc. I have always used audio as a major point for information, but I’ve been really turning to it lately for anything of substance. As someone with ADHD multitasking is in my blood (obviously this is different for everyone but that’s how mine often manifests). The digital age is in some ways incredible for someone like me, because I am able to pick up things that fall through the cracks at speeds I could never do previously. Search functions are my lifeblood. But as you’re discussing, it’s hard to distinguish between different sorts of content now, which is very important for someone like me. I need to kind of know what I am signing up for, and I don’t need everything to be designed for speed reading or quick glances. Audio formats don’t really fall into this problem. They are the links they are, and it is right in front of you. It is a known, concrete quality. The only thing you can do is change the speed at which it plays back, which is an entirely different thing. I don’t know maybe I’m a little off base here, but something about what you wrote just made me think about that and really click into place why I’ve been listening to so much audio contact and reading so much less. I need to fire up my kindle paper white a little probably.