The Kindle is a key to the next user interface

Implications: 1. Paper and Pen are a natural for people when it comes to ideas and creativity 2. Simplicity is important when it comes to design

Analysis: I am now convinced that there is a coming improvement in user interface because of how my twelve year-old uses his Kindle and loves the iPhone.  My son is just as comfortable sitting in bed reading a book  (a paper version) or the kindle.  I have also found him in bed using my iphone to look up youtube videos or browsing the web.  There is something about the interface of both these devices that compel my ten year-old.  We are a three laptop family (including one tablet), but I have never found my son interested in sitting in bed at night playing with his laptop.

More evidence for my theory is that my two older children (now 19 and 22) learned to use a computer when they were under two years old.  And we can see how this generation is fully comfortable using any electronics (sometimes to our own dismay and envy).  This generation is changing how computing is used in the business world and I think my son is onto something that will be coming.

It has become clear that the next generation "display" will need to be virtual in size and not limited to the device size.  This device will also have to fit easily onto a small surface or be held in one hand (no heavy battery packs will be tolerated). 

Another key is that the applications on the device will have to be flexible to create whole new solutions.  My son uses the SIMs software to build 3-D simulation ships out of the building blocks to build a house.  My son has built a virtual ship the size of the titanic with a full three classes of service and sample characters from the SIMs to act as passengers on this ship.  New applications will not be applications that limit a person the way the current PC applications can.  I can just imagine that my son will assume that he can design his own house with a program similar to SIMs and then have a builder build his house of his dreams.

The new applications will have the ability to create reality out of dreams.  Much like the CAD-CAM programs today allow professionals to build and design products.  I believe the future applications will allow the average consumer to design individual products.

I think the Kindle will evolve into a new type of device that will be more than an electronic book.  I think the new PDA's will also play a part in creating a more productive way for people to create new ideas.  And because of their small size and long battery life they have the opportunity to increase the flow of ideas.  This is much like the creation of the PC in the 80's started the digital storage and communication of ideas.