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iWish

Dale Dougherty, (editor and publisher of MAKE) makes the point that the iPad could eventually be a great interactive multimedia consumption device (think educational CD’s from the late 90′s) if only there were the software to create it.

“So, when I think of the iPad, I wonder if a new opportunity will exist for interactive applications, which will find a space somewhere between a computer and the TV. They’ll need to do more than convey information, as most ordinary websites do. They’ll need to be more user-driven than television but they’ll need to integrate all forms of media. iPhone apps certainly look more like simple CD-ROM apps than they do websites.

What’s missing today is HyperCard, or an equivalent tool that can be used to create a new wave of applications for the iPad. And if Apple isn’t thinking about it, you’d expect that Adobe would be, especially since its acquisition of Macromedia brought in-house the other professional tool used by CD-ROM creators, Macromind Director. It’s not that HyperCard or Director is the answer, but I am just pointing out the lack of really good tools available for amateurs and professionals to use to create new kinds of applications for the iPad. HyperCard was not only used by The Voyager Company; it was used by teachers to create coursework; or students to prepare a report; it was used by individuals to develop novelty applications like recipe databases. We had highly produced, professional applications and mostly free shareware apps.

Making it easy to create content and increasing the number of people who can create applications for the iPad could be very important to its long-term success. The web has made producers of us all. If the iPad is just another consumer platform for consuming and not creating content, then it will just be another way to watch TV or listen to music or download information. Convenient, yes, but just another device. To be something different, the iPad must not be just a delivery platform but a creative one, offering professionals and amateurs an opportunity to create a unique experience with interactive media“

i think it’s an interesting idea, but i still remember the main problems with CDROM ‘infotainment’ was that they were never truly interactive. to not repeat the mistakes of the past i would encourage developers to keep in mind that we really want to be able to share and store the experience in their program across the internet and with our friends.

via o’reilly radar

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This entry was posted on Monday, May 3rd, 2010 at 9:33 am. It is filed under blog and tagged with copyright, IPad. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.