Processor
Product Concept / 2016
I believe there’s a better word processor to be built that would allow people think and write more freely.
You can read some of my thoughts from 2016 on this here. I don’t agree with everything that’s there. But you’ll get the gist.
This what my standard Sketch file looks like. It looks messy, but it’s actually a beautiful representation of a tool that not only allows for, but ENCOURAGES, quick jotting of ideas and iterations.
Some thoughts / questions:
- My problems with current word processors: collecting random thoughts and iterating / comparing writing is possible, but not encouraged by the design of our tools. I don’t actually care about the increased friction that comes with copy and pasting; I care about the things you decide not to write down at all because the tool doesn’t support that kind of thinking and creating.
- I still think Gingko might be the only product thinking about word processing in a fundamentally new, interesting way.
- One of the things that Gingko struggles with is that, while writing in modules allows you to do interesting organizational things, it’s doesn’t feel... right. Seems to impede getting into a flow. It seems that there needs to be a way to transition to a completely blank, standard word processing mode and then a way to switch into some... other mode.
- Thus, the balence between familiarity and a few core features is the key here. Shocking.
- The infinite-collapse interaction of Workflowly is good.
- What would it mean to “zoom in” and “zoom out” of a writing piece like a digital illustrator might do?
Here is an early prototype I made exploring some of these idea. It’s definitely not there. But it’s something.
If you’re interested in any of these ideas, hit me up. lee94josh@gmail.com