This post is just a mindfart on an idea that's been dancing around in my head for a while. There are plenty of things that may not make sense. Maybe they're totally nonsense..
Abstract
Consider the explosion of apps that has happened since the beginning of the 21st century. The many different apps out there are here to accommodate the entire spectrum of user activities shown in this image. Blockchain-based or not, it remains that users have their own set of apps they use frequently to enhance their well-being. From a market perspective, there seems to be value to be extracted from our choice and use of apps. With this in mind, consider the following:-
What if more time spent in apps are better indicators of quality and utility compared to simple user reviews?
What if app discoverability and recommendations can be improved with a form of Proof-of-Usage?
What if users can create named folders with relevant apps? For example, a folder called "My Top 5 Apps for Freelance Work" or "My Favourite Blockchain-based Betting Platforms"? These folders can be sorted according to a variety of metrics which may include popularity, region of usage, etc. These folders can be shared, rated, and followed by users in a peer-to-peer network.
With all the what-ifs above, let's think about this as a secure, grand unification app. It must be such a natural app that users are incentivised to use it ALL the time. The app should also serve as a seamless window into any other apps - indeed the basis of all app menus found on mobile devices like the iPhone or the iPad. So by describing this, such an app would be:-
Any user's hub for their accounts / identities / wallets.
A decentralised exchange.
A place to create named folders with relevant apps.
A "marketplace" for such folders which can be shared, rated, and followed by other app users.
A provider of seamless switching between apps.
Taking it further with blockchain apps
The new world economy is a wonder and future of blockchain technology. All transparent activities contain transactional value and this generates "heat maps" in the universe of blockchains. These "heatmaps" indicate potential places to extract value. Maybe there's some wisdom in the saying - follow the money. By designing a revolutionary app-agnostic block-surfing platform that provides a sleek, seamless, and uninterrupted cross-platform user experience, BlockSurf is in the position to be anyone's universal gateway with its own thriving value-seeking economy.
Expanded - problems and solutions
Too many "apps" and "workflows". So, follow the trusted / best / reputable / newbie / whatever "users / containers" on BlockSurf.
Lack of trusted discovery (the great divide between apps and "legitness"). So, anyone can create account / identity on BlockSurf and start putting anything into containers / folders. Let's say a user like Vitalik Buterin creates an account and makes a container / folder named "My Top 5 Everyday Apps" or "My Stash of Memes" or "Mobile & Nomadic Freelancer Toolkit", and fills them with any webapps (perfect) or whatever files. He can list all his folders out in the open for anyone to follow. Some app / incentive involved around here between as many productive participants as possible - perhaps from sharing / trying / using / reviewing.
Broken UI / UX flowing in and out of platforms. Create the BlockSurf interface and method.
No real "new world economy lifestyle" mother app of all apps out there. So, provide a platform to incentivise good sharing of what people are really using often and maybe to great effect (can be some webapps, any files, etc.)
Idea for UI / UX (BlockSurf interface and method)
- There's a grid / matrix of blocks on screen.
- These blocks can be swiped left / right / up / down with a degree of momentum physics.
- These blocks are the very basis of navigating anywhere on this app. Even the root menu of the app is made up of blocks.
- These blocks are just containers (even in coding)
- Search / navigation of users / activities / whatever are also in surfable blocks.
- Contents (whatever it is) in container ideally should be preloaded first so whenever user decides to focus on a particular block, it'll open up and becomes operational right away.
Cryptoeconomics / mining
To be determined. Not sure about the possibilities.
Extra notes
No APIs required. Apps are containerised in blocks on the BlockSurf app (ideally, a webapp)
The point is for anyone to getting right into the flow of any other users, exploring their apps of choice. Blocksurfing is not "go through a list of someone's favourite apps and click on the appended links to check things out". Should be way smoother.