Rich User Experiences - Wakoopa

Wouldn’t it be fun if you could see exactly what you are spending all your time on the computer for? How much time you use surfing the web, how many minutes you use doing your assignments? And maybe get a bad conscience when you see that the differences between the two of them are maybe too huge? Wakoopa was launched in May 2007 and it uses a discreet client side tracking software that logs what programs you are using and for how long. It sends this to your profile online and you can then get an overview on what programs you use the most, and get recommendations for new ones! It uses largely the Web 2.0 pattern "Rich User Experiences" to attract users.

The users can also write reviews of programs and give descriptions. All of this are syndicated with RSS. The content is dynamic and changes with time, in comparison with earlier days where the content was static and difficult to change. Now a whole new world is opening up, where online programs are just as powerful and also have a rich, graphical interface. We see now a transition from a desktop model to an online model.

My profile on Wakoopa


The site uses Ajax, Javascript and HTML, which makes it easy to use and fast. They have added a cool drop down menu to their profile where you can get an overlook over your features.

Your navigation bar with the drop down list


You can hover over the charts over your daily usage, and with that get a visual feedback on how much time you spend on the different areas.



An example of a chart of your weekly use



Wakoopa also uses a practice from the first Web 2.0 pattern “Harnessing Collective Intelligene, by rewarding the users by giving them points from the start. You get the first point by just starting the Wakoopa tracker, by doing that the user feel an instant reward and continue to use it to get one level up in the hierarchy. To get more points you can for example be the first to use a new application. A list of the rest you can find here.
The different levels are like this :



The different levels


The benefits with a rich user interface is that the sites always get more satisfied users and much lower website abandonment. It’s an easy application to use, and by having the advantage of knowing what applications you use, Wakoopa gives you a deep, adaptive personalization by for example showing you what other applications that may suit you and your online life, and that is maybe the applications greatest advantage.


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Innovation In Assembly – Photobucket

Photobucket is a website that was founded in 2003 as an image hosting site. Later on they have added video hosting, slideshow creating possibilities and photo sharing. These services have been added to the application by developers who has been given Photobucket’s open API. That means that everyone can get a hold of the framework of the website.




I have chosen Photobucket as an example for the third Web 2.0 Pattern “Innovation in Assembly” because it uses many of the best practices of the pattern.
They have an open API so other people can develop tools for the application. These tools can be everything from creative tools such as slideshow creations, photo products and image editor (edit colors, contrasts and add effects to the picture) to different uploading and mobile tools. By doing this Photobucket will continue to grow as an all rounder when it comes to people needs for storage online.

The users can decide for themselves which of the different APIs they want to follow, Photobucket has made all their APIs available at this link.



Different tools

There are a lot of other mashup’s as well that have been created. You can take a look at all of them here. One example is VoixPx. They have made it possible to create a slide show with narration. The pictures they take from Photobucket, Flickr, Myspace, Bebo or Facebook by using the different APIs, and the voice you add with your phone!

One issue I can think of with Photobucket is with one of the services they provide; users can search through other peoples pictures. When I started using the service you weren't able to see anyone's pictures. It was very closed and you needed a password and username. I see now that you can search for pictures, and I looked at my privacy settings to see what was the default, and to me it looked like I share my pictures with everyone else.


My privacy default settings

I really think that the default settings should be that your pictures are private, and you can share them if you want. If someone else have anything to add, or if I have misunderstood something just shout out :)

The success story of Photobucket has a lot do to with staying in touch with the emerging trends and giving developers the opportunity to create great applications that enhances the website as the years go by. The website continues to grow because people's needs for online storage and to show off their pictures will never disappear.