Subj : Re: In the future..
To   : Nick Andre
From : Dan Richter
Date : Sun Jun 07 2020 10:48 am

On 07 Jun 2020, Nick Andre said the following...
 
 NA> I keep reading from those who ponder about Fido's future, about what the
 NA> next mailer will look like, the next message format, the next whatever.
 NA> What I never read, is what the next *user* will look like. Pretty
 NA> certain the next user will not be techie like us.

Oh, yes, I remember users... ;)

You're right. For us, there is a passion involved with getting everything set
up to work properly, and change things to make them different from others.
Someone just looking at the technology we are using, won't have that same
passion. Is there a way to attract new users into this hobby? 

 NA> The younger generation that uses messaging and social apps do not care
 NA> about Linux, multi-protocol database structures or Wan transport
 NA> topologies when using the apps. So, why expect the same for a new Fido
 NA> user? Why must new software be the traditional mailer, tosser, nodelist,
 NA> editor, etc. Why not just focus on messages?

In my opinion, it's not just the messages, but there would also need to be a
graphical interface for them as well. Let's face it, in their lives, all they
have known is the point-and-click, and tapping. Most of them would be lost at
a command prompt.

 NA> What would be really good is a mobile/tablet app that is so dumbed-down
 NA> that it just focuses on messaging. Let the newcomer get their feet wet
 NA> with that, and if they actually are techie or want a taste of nostalgia
 NA> they can go ahead and experiment with mailers and BBS software.

Very good point. At this point, there really isn't even a good way to access
the technology via a mobile device. Granted, I haven't looked at all of them,
but from what I've seen, they are clumsy to work with.


---

Black Panther(RCS)
Castle Rock BBS

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A45 2020/02/18 (Linux/64)
 * Origin: Castle Rock BBS - bbs.castlerockbbs.com - (1:317/3)

.