User-Driven Applications—New Paradigm for Interface Design

Abstract

40 years ago the outcome of computer programs was in the form of long listings covered by numbers; even the format of those numbers was determined by developers. Throughout the latest 30 years program views and results are shown in a wide variety of shapes and variants, but all these possibilities are predefined and fixed in code by developers; nothing outside of their approved solutions is allowed. My vision from now on into the future: developers are responsible only for correct work of a program (calculations, link with the database, etc.) and suggest a good default interface but not determine all possible scenarios; only users decide WHAT, WHEN, and HOW to show. This will be a revolution in our interaction with computers, but there are obvious questions. How this step can be made? Do all users need such change? Is it going to be a burden for users or a welcome revolution?