[OpenID] Fwd: Excellent critique of OpenID usability

[Stephen Paul Weber]

This also makes sense -- since openid.net is not targeted at end-users, I
never have linked there from my end-user implementations.

On 8/17/07, Gabe Wachob <gabe.wachob at amsoft.net> wrote:
>
>  I see these complaints about OpenID.net not being understandable to end
> users and I totally agree with that assessment. But that was never the goal,
> and I think simply slapping up a list of openid providers would be
> inadequate.
>
>
>
> OpenID is a protocol, not an service offering or even a technology that a
> user can use directly. Hence, I don't see why (as OpenID, the protocol)
> should be marketed or even explained to end-users, IMHO. W3C doesn't market
> HTTP to end users, it markets the web (to the extent it markets to end users
> at all). This is like promoting the web by putting up links to web servers
> and web hosting companies.
>
>
>
> I don't think the community has actually figured out what messages are to
> end users (though I know the marketing group of the OIDF is actively working
> on this).
>
>
>
> Right now, I'm simply not all that concerned about end-users not
> understanding openid.net – it was never intended for them, any more than
> RFC 2616 was intended for users of the web. I think openid RPs and OPs need
> to describe to their own users what the experience is going to be at **their
> site** - the bottom line is that the user experience for each RP & OP can
> vary quite a bit – compare, for example, the user experience on Jyte vs. the
> user experience on Technorati.
>
>
>
> What the community needs to do is provide the very basic cognitive
> structure that the RPs and OPs can be plugged into. That's it.  OpenID is a
> piece of a new way of thinking about online digital identity (user-centric,
> card/identifier-centric, not service/provider-centric identity) and **that
> ** has to be explained to the user – only then can OpenID be understood in
> context in any sort of meaningful (non-technical) way.
>
>
>
> So, coming around to the topic, I think it would be useful for the user's
> perspective to put together a good presentation/document/wiki page(s) on
> user-centric identity (as opposed to a multitude of username/passwords) and
> how OpenID fits into this space – I'm sure there's something good out there
> to start with (or just use)?
>
>
>
> Anyone want to work on this at barcamp block?
>
>
>
>      -Gabe
>
>
>
>
>   ------------------------------
>
> *From:* general-bounces at openid.net [mailto:general-bounces at openid.net] *On
> Behalf Of *Stephen Paul Weber
> *Sent:* Friday, August 17, 2007 1:38 PM
> *To:* openid-general
> *Subject:* [OpenID] Fwd: Excellent critique of OpenID usability
>
>
>
>
>
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> From: *Stephen Paul Weber* <singpolyma at gmail.com>
> Date: Aug 17, 2007 4:37 PM
> Subject: Re: [OpenID] Excellent critique of OpenID usability
> To: Eric Norman <ejnorman at doit.wisc.edu>
>
> I must admit that openid.net should hide all geekery on another page and
> provide a short list of OPs
>
>
>
> On 8/17/07, *Eric Norman *<ejnorman at doit.wisc.edu> wrote:
>
>
> On Aug 17, 2007, at 11:10 AM, Simon Willison wrote:
>
> > "OpenID: Great idea, bewildering consumer experience"
> > http://miksovsky.blogs.com/flowstate/2007/08/openid-great-id.html
> >
> > This is a really valuable article. It's a critique of OpenID by a
> > usability guy ( http://miksovsky.blogs.com/about.html ) - it's pretty
> > comprehensive, and provides some useful suggestions for improving
> > things at the end.
>
> Yes it is.  Well worth reading.
>
> And I just made a comment on his blog that most on this list
> probably won't want to read.  (Mercy sakes, did I ever put too
> much cynicism on my Corn Flakes this morning).
>
> Eric Norman
> http://ejnorman.blogspot.com
>
>
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>
>
>
>
>
>  --
> - Stephen Paul Weber, Amateur Writer
> <http://www.awriterz.org>
>
> MSN/GTalk/Jabber: singpolyma at gmail.com
> ICQ/AIM: 103332966
> BLOG: http://singpolyma.net/
>
> --
> - Stephen Paul Weber, Amateur Writer
> <http://www.awriterz.org>
>
> MSN/GTalk/Jabber: singpolyma at gmail.com
> ICQ/AIM: 103332966
> BLOG: http://singpolyma.net/
>



-- 
- Stephen Paul Weber, Amateur Writer
<http://www.awriterz.org>

MSN/GTalk/Jabber: singpolyma at gmail.com
ICQ/AIM: 103332966
BLOG: http://singpolyma.net/
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