Jetpack from Mozilla Labs

Google Tech Talk
Web Exponents
August 13, 2009

ABSTRACT

Presented by Aza Raskin.

Jetpack is an exploration in using Web technologies to enhance the browser (e.g. HTML, CSS and Javascript), with the goal of allowing anyone who can build a Web site to participate in making the Web a better place to work, communicate and play.

Aza Raskin is currently the Head of User Experience for Mozilla Labs, where he works on crafting the future of the web. He's led projects ranging from semantic language-based interfaces (Ubiquity), to redesigning the Firefox extension platform (JetPack). Aza gave his first talk on user interface at age 10 and got hooked. At 17, he was talking and consulting internationally; at 19, he coauthored a physics textbook because he was too young to buy alcohol; at 21, he started drinking alcohol and co-founded Humanized. Two years later, Aza founded Songza.com, a minimalist music search engine that had over a million song plays during it's first week of operation. In another life, Aza has done Dark Matter research at both Tokyo University and the University of Chicago, from where he graduated with degrees in math and physics.

The Web Exponents Series is hosted by Steve Souders

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• google tech talk
• web user experience

[peppeddu]

The UI model doesn't work anymore because historically we thought that more features the better the software.

Unfortunately we have reached the tipping point where users don't really need new functionality but need a simpler interface not a functionality searching tool like JetPack.

Google is the first company that got the message, all their software is remarkably simple, yet, functional.

Hopefully Microsoft will follow suit and with that, the rest of the software industry.

[m0u53m4t]

Or... God forbid hotmail...

LMFAO <3

[salmanabbas007]

@DMitsukirules Then what are u doing here? faggot!

[antimatter15]

I was thinking a better and simpler way to make a browser based and potentially standardizable addon type system is to have a uniformed permissions system which can have all the capabilities of a jetpack addon. That covers just about all non-chrome addons statusbars could be made by (with permission) allowing HTML for document.title and you would get moving for free. Uninstalling (just close the tab) and installing (grant permissions), get info/help (open the tab contents).

[mbarkhau]

I find it fascinating, that people hate the command line and yet now with the url bar and things like this people are finding their way back. I guess you have to learn to point, to communicate with the computer, before you can learn to talk with it.

[jancom777]

This is awesome!

[xAeternax]

@4:20

"Work in Dutch.."

Billeder Fundet is Danish, not Dutch.

[javierenchina]

random youtube comment

[DMitsukirules]

i hate the internet

[KeukaRyder]

I'm getting the idea that ole Aza is like the guy who does 'Sham Wow' commercials. "'To be truly global you have to first be local"

Wow..so deep!