Everything on the screen in design mode is drag and drop.  Resizing, adding features, functions and more.  I so wish my Lotus Domino based blog had this function as well.  If you have not seen Headway theme and run WordPress, take a look and let me know if you have questions.  It is much like Squarespace for those running their own WordPress.  Global changes and more are a click away.  The whole thing can be done behind the scenes before launching so no one sees the changes until you are ready in their safe mode.  Amazing stuff.

So stage #1 included the following and how:

• Highlight the screencasts.  I simply added a HTML leaf and embedded the code.  I drug the edge for sizing and saved.  Done.
• Show the featured posts prominently.  I added a featured posts leaf and set the number to rotate through.  Set to fluid height and to use the excerpt. Done.
• Change the sidebar.  Partially done.  I am playing with the order and will move the Archive links to the Archive page shortly.

Stage 2 will redo the banner and small advertisements I run to support the site.  It will also finish the social integration points.  I kept the coloring easy and simple in stage 1.  Separated the sections better and hopefully made getting to content faster.

Look for a change to the SpikedStudio page as well very shortly as the new SpikedStudio channel has launched on YouTube to bring all the content into one place and another presence.  TheSocialNetworker and IdoNotes is there.  NotesIn9 makes it’s appearance soon too.

The comparison item of choice is a device back in the day, to use the term, we enjoyed playing simple, yet difficult, video games with nothing more than a stick and a button (see Atari 2600 for you kids)

Games today have more than eight buttons, triggers and multiple sticks.  Compare that to social networks being developed.  The current most successful ones offer a definite focus with an interface usable by anyone from the first time.  Advanced features might be hidden, disabled by default or in other screens entirely.

So what should the networks today be doing?  Simplifying the user experience with a team of UI testers and designers.  When I do screencasts and talk about new sites and how I think they function, it is often surprising to the developers.  Most testing is done by early adopters and those higher in the social media ranks.  A very slim margin of everyday users are selected, or even dedicate the time, to give constructive feedback.

New social media products and companies should investigate reaching out to the general population more often.  Explore how your non-techie friends would explain it to others.  If they cannot, then you are making it too complicated.