Forget GUIs (graphical user interfaces). ZUIs (zooming user interfaces) are what’s next – or so many developers would have us believe. Wikipedia references several implementations: Pad++, Piccolo, Squeak, and Archy to name a few. None of these are even remotely usable. However, sofake designed Billy Harvey’s website – which is a very effective and fun use of a ZUI interface. Of course, they left a traditional side navigation on the left of the window to support users who are not used to a non-conventional method of navigation. ZUIs are a refreshing new approach to human interfaces, but they have a long way to go before they become truly user friendly.
