What If Real-World "Like" & "Dislike" Buttons Existed? A Day in the Life
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The Facebook “like” button has revolutionized the way we interact and share content on the web. People can easily express how they feel towards a person, brand, comment or photo with the click of a button. The power and influence of the “like” button stretches far beyond the social network boundaries. It is increasingly difficult to find a webpage today that does not utilize the “like” button. We are essentially able to control the web based on what we like and what we don’t like.
Now what if the “like” button existed outside the screen? Even further, what if the option to “dislike” was incorporated into everyday life?
If we could voice our frustration with people, situations and everyday annoyances using a “dislike” button; it would be all too easy to begin counteracting the universal affection and acceptance spread by that of the “like” button. Well, it’s only human nature to whine and complain. And this would be so much easier with a “dislike” button.
What would a day in life look like with real-world 'like' and 'dislike' buttons?
If real world “like” and “dislike” buttons existed, a day in life would involve expressing preferences for various daily events. For example, one might “like” the fact that kids sleep late at 6:30 am, but “dislike” telling a daughter to get dressed repeatedly at 7:00 am. The morning commute might be “liked” for its brevity (walking to the attic/office), followed by “liking” a hazelnut latte. However, deleting mass emails at 8:30 am would be a definite “dislike.” Enjoying a Sonos Music System at 9:00 am would be a “like,” while "urgent" emails that are anything but would be "disliked" at 9:01 am. Lunch leftovers at 12:30 pm would be "liked" for tasting better the next day, and efficient work in the afternoon would also be "liked." The afternoon might bring a "dislike" for hunger after a healthy lunch at 3:00 pm, quickly followed by "liking" a snack at 3:01 pm. The day would conclude with "liking" the closing of a laptop at 6:09 pm, only to "dislike" reading a work email on the phone at 9:31 pm, prompting a return to work.
The Evolution of Facebook Sharing
People are sharing more and more information about what they are thinking, doing, reading, and/or listening to via Facebook enabled apps. The social network is making sweeping steps to merge online representation with the real world.
You have probably seen QR (quick response) codes while walking down the street, browsing the mall or flipping through magazines. If you own a smart phone, you can use a downloadable QR reader to scan QR codes on outdoor posters, magazines or products. This launches a URL in the phone’s browser, which leads users to download content, view a video, read a message or trigger various responses related to the product campaign.
Scanning social QR codes also automatically links users to “like” its Facebook fan page.
Though advertisers are the only ones currently using QR codes, and they haven’t quite taken off with the general public, they are still a small step towards enhancing the way people connect real life experiences with the Internet.
For now, it’s probably a good thing we do not have a real world app that enables the announcement of our every thought and feeling on a daily basis. Some things are better left unshared…
Let us know what you would “like” and/or “dislike” in real life!