Reconsidering the Hardware Kindle Interface

Craig Mod, on how the iOS Kindle interaction model has leaked out to Amazon’s hardware readers as well:

What is the iOS Kindle interaction model? The iOS Kindle model is the “hidden spaces” model. That is, all active interface elements are invisible. This “hidden spaces” model of interaction is supremely user antagonistic.

There are no affordances to the taps. No edges to the active areas. Nothing to hint at what might happen. This creates what I call a “brittle” interface — where one wrong tap sends you careening in an unknown direction, without knowing why or how you got there.

I’ve had several Kindles over the years, and never liked one enough to really enjoy it. I agree completely with Mod’s suggestion that they add hardware buttons for page turning and the menu.

★ Monday, 30 April 2018