Experiences: Technology Trends

Most people have experienced a moment when they are in the middle of a transaction on their mobile phone and considered whether it is really safe. Every banking application is built on user acceptance and trust. The answer to the question of trust does not always remain the same. In response to threats that didn’t exist six months ago, the safety of this software is continually emerging and being tested, discussed, and rebuilt.

Today, user trust requires a balance between factors that usually work well together: strict protection and a seamless consumer experience. Customers want the right to access their money, but every access factor must be locked and in line with regulators. Developers are under a lot of stress to get every element just right, so sometimes get caught between the two. Read More

Something wonderful has been happening in the world of software development for quite some time now: we are seeing an incredibly strong trend among the developers of Software as a Service (SaaS) products who are questioning the need for passwords for Web applications. Gartner anticipates that 60% of large, global enterprises will implement some kind of passwordless authentication method by 2022. The percentage of mid-size businesses making this prediction is even higher: 90%, making this an essential consideration when you’re rethinking your application’s log-in and sign-up flows.

The elimination of passwords challenges cybersecurity’s status quo, reduces bad friction, and enables businesses to enhance their products’ user experience. What is wrong with passwords? What are the pros and cons of passwordless authentication. How can apply this approach to your next product? Let’s find out. Read More

Robotics. Genomics. Synthetic biology. Such emerging technologies are today at the cusp of widespread commercial adoption and will have disruptive impact across industries—from agriculture to manufacturing and health to energy. These technologies are the next great frontier for User Experience.

Science, engineering, and design are percolating on solutions to many technological challenges. UX designers are bringing the expertise they’ve gained in creating digital and physical products to bear on new robotic and even biological products. For instance, at the Wyss Institute, cross-disciplinary teams comprising scientists, engineers, designers, business people, and other innovators are creating and commercializing bio-inspired products. Last year, the Bio/Nano Programmable Matter group at Autodesk created a synthetic bacteriophage and 3D printed the virus. The company, which is best known for its design and engineering software, is now working on a next-gen software platform for synthetic-biology design. Read More