I’m a big fan of the Ocarina iPhone application put out by Smule, but I like where their Zephyr app is going even better.
“With this app, users can express thoughts by writing or drawing on a snow covered screen. Zephyr senses every touch and tilt to supplement each message with a unique wind sound, creating a unique visual and audio story. Users can release their snow and wind compositions into the atmosphere. These messages ultimately land in the hands of people across the globe.”
I believe the reason I am so drawn to it is because it resonates with some new ideas that are floating around about a new phase of software. I have been trying to think about different kinds of #spiritware and what defines this new field of computing. One way I boiled it down is by asking “What Would Jesus Code”? Now, I know that’s an annoying slogan to borrow from, but I think it’s actually an interesting idea if you stop to think about it.
One way I answered the question on twitter is:
“I would like to think jesus software would be more parable & less procedure; more poem over problem solving.”
For instance: Though I’ve never played it, I am guessing that D&D is more than a twelve-sided die and a set of rules; likewise, I am interested in software where the ‘heart’ of the program exists in the users mind. In the case of the Zephyr program, there is not really a *point* to the game – the majority of the experience of the game is the persons relationship with the application, the mystery of an incoming *message*, the interpretation and wonder w/ it.
Just as Jesus turned away from the huge ruleset’s of his ancestors, the monolithic rituals and customs of the past – perhaps we too should stray from from our design patterns and algorithms and allow the bulk of the core application to actually rest within the hearts and minds of our users.