Life use to be simple all you had to know was how to WIMP. As an interaction designer you strive for ease of use in human to computer interactions, but that's not enough anymore. The social tsunami has hit computing as evidenced by blogs, social networks, online collaboration, networked games, and distributed presence. The vibrant social networks have their own social protocols and unique cultures. So now that we are re-mixing and mashing up these cultures interaction designers just don't cut it. We need Social Network Translators! I envision a new generation of young people that can mediate sophisticated interaction between individuals and groups across social networks. Will they come in pairs, sit in sound-proof booths, scribble notes, speak into our ears through wireless headsets, as we follow along with the key-note speaker? I want to know how to interface between Digg and Flickr so I can interact with a very special group of people. Who can help me? Is anyone looking at this? Maybe we need to forget WIMP and think about YUTPA?
