Company
Date Published
Author
Des Traynor
Word count
1293
Language
English
Hacker News points
None

Summary

Software is magical when it provides instant value with minimal effort, such as a single tap or click delivering results. The new magic in software design comes from the "Uber-fication" of products, where long processes are streamlined into simple tasks, and smart context-aware defaults are used to offer restricted choices. Additionally, the end of data entry is being achieved through the shift from recall to recognition, and by removing data entry steps entirely, allowing users to access information directly. The third aspect is ambient awareness, where systems are designed to deliver valuable insights automatically, without requiring users to take action. By reducing repeated actions to a tap or two, killing data entry, and delivering value automatically, software can create magic for the user.