Comments on: Great UI needed for social software controls

By: Whit Andrews

Whit Andrews — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 20:04:15 +0000

There was a time when this kind of parceling was assumed to be inevitable, although in a slightly different context. I remember Firefly headed in that direction, as did Microsoft after buying those guys out. It is a fascinating issue, but the trust level I would have to have for the vendor would be fairly intense.

By: Philip Allega

Philip Allega — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 11:39:39 +0000

As much as I’m attracted to the idea of a UI that parses my personas to different social sites, it’s also the inherent nature of the technology we use that compounds your social schizophrenia. As illustrated in the case of the “gentleman” from Sydney, a quick print-screen captures the image and posting from one site for other purposes. In the interests of privacy to a community that supports one particular persona, such sites would have to have the power to disable such functionality as a condition of participation. Certainly, one could “doctor up” such pictures (and, it’s getting easier to do so), but my example does make the point that there’s more out here that just a social UI, it may have to drive down to the OS UI itself to support such interactions.

Indeed, behind the scenes, an enforceable legally binding agreement concerning the posting and linking of information tied to various persona would have to exist between the providers themselves. Who would want an agreement with one site that they’ll preserve your interaction with them only to discover that a link to that site (and some of your information) has been provided on another site that is not as friendly to your privacy needs. How? Perhaps by a saboteur that shares the first site with you or, perhaps because limited information is shared by the first site to entice others to join their network (e.g., public bits of a private profile). Such legal enforceablity would require treaties between nations. I’m not holding my breath for that result.

Dave’s admonition on Yammer and the old adage concerning lips and ships holds true today. Anonymity is the antithesis of social networking sites. Sites that provide and encourage alternative persona behavior support anonymity but do not provide the benefits that social sites provide.

Personally, this requires me to particular about who is in my network and judge my level of comfortability with that person to professionally share public information. Reducing persona juggling activities forces me to be more transparent and selective.

My Father served 33 years in the US Marine Corps. He noted that he was never “off work”, only on “leave from duty”. He was, and is, always a Marine. As an aside, if “Old Marines never die, they just go to hell and regroup”, would an adage “Old Analysts never die, they just serve new clients in a different venue” be appropriate?

In cyberspace, you’re always at work.

By: Jeff Mann

Jeff Mann — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 14:45:48 +0000

Thanks for all your comments, although I can’t take credit for the graphic. It illustrated the NYT article.
What I am looking for goes beyond cosmetic UI issues, of course. This needs deep UI, with ease of use hiding hard background functionality.
In the meantime, Be Careful Out There is good advice. A good place to start is emphasizing common sense. Don’t post what you wouldn’t say at a neighbourhood party. Don’t post what your boss, competitor or mother shouldn’t see.

By: Dave Armon

Dave Armon — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 12:00:30 +0000

Having spent a good deal of my career counseling corporate execs on compliance with Securities & Exchange Commission disclosure rules, I agree there’s danger being Thomas Tightlipped with one audience and Barry Blabber with another.

All it takes is the inadvertent release of something material to a limited audience (i.e., employees) to get into hot water.

Until someone invents your Persona-matic machine, it’s best to fight off the desire to say different things to different audiences and just be as open and transparent as you can with everyone.

My new advice to microbloggers: “Releasing earnings on Yammer leads to the slammer.”

By: Ben Pitman

Ben Pitman — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 09:50:42 +0000

I agree, a great UI would enhance and expand the possibilities for business and social users on social networking sites. Now if only I had the skill sets to be that great designer.

Great post and nice pic to.

By: Michael Aulia

Michael Aulia — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 23:02:34 +0000

Although UI is not everything, but it does attracts the users to using the software.

A good example is Friendster and Facebook. Facebook AJAX interface is so much better and user friendlier compared to Friendster. It made me stop using Friendster and moved to Facebook