Company
Date Published
Author
Braden Ream
Word count
1531
Language
English
Hacker News points
None

Summary

Mobile interfaces are set by designers on behalf of machines and learned by humans, resulting in uniform structures with unique twists. Voice user interfaces (VUIs) require teaching computers how to talk to humans, making them more intuitive but also more complex to design. Mobile apps are costly to build due to their complexity, while voice apps benefit from cloud-based architecture, reducing the need for downloads and promoting faster engagement. The ideal mobile app is deep in engagement but few in number, whereas voice apps prioritize functionality and speed over user interaction. Traditional discovery methods for voice apps are explicit, relying on users knowing what they want, which limits their adoption. However, implicit discovery, where users state their intention, is becoming increasingly popular, promising a more seamless experience. Small businesses may not need mobile apps but could benefit from voice apps as the technology advances and becomes more accessible.