May 24

Written by: Eric Bell
5/24/2007 12:21 PM 

    What is the killer app of today and possibly tomorrow? Another spreadsheet, another wordprocessor or a new Wiki? No, the next killer app is the app that is simple to understand, simple to use and executed well. Its the app that provides immediate feedback. These may not be objective criteria but the formula works. The question for the company that comes up with this app is ...how to make money and supply this app?

    A simple app with immediate feedback that is my thesis. Not solving a particular problem like tax preparation software, word processors, spreadsheets. These apps are not particularly simple but they do provide immediate feedback. But 1 out of 2 isn't the point. Both are needed ...simple with immediate feedback

    Web browers were considered to be a killer app at one time and occassionally are trumpeted up to be the next killer app. The truth is they were and are and will always be just that, a killer app. The are simple to use if you use only the basic feature of navigating the world wide web. The provide immediate feedback at all times. Click on any link or enter a URL and the return on investment is immediate. Sometimes dramatic, the results are always interesting even with the dullest site, you can always go somewhere else on the web. In a few minutes of clicking around, you can visit the world, pick up a tip on some subject of interest, or email a map to a friend.

    Our interest with text messaging, video messages, all forms of messaging is  fostered by apps that that highly specialized making it very easy to work and get messages out to the world or specific parties. Its the simple part. Create a message and send it, publish it provides immediate feedback. It is either sent or fails but you know right then and the recipient invariably knows soon enough.

    A killer app of this kind can be created at any time and is perhaps all the time. Mashups are examples in many cases of just this and are being created faster and faster. Why don't they become big? Perhaps there is a third aspect that hasn't been considered in this article, something that is not understood yet but sometime will be. For now we have to leave it at that, a third aspect yet undiscovered.

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