Between Us

I always wonder about permanence online. Memeoirs made me consider this aspect while I was looking through their materials. What we do in online spaces is so ephemeral. This app makes me wonder about longevity of stored "keepsakes". It's a really fascinating idea. Will couples still be using this app in ten years or have access to it? Since long term value is probably the most important thing for apps like this, answering that question is critical.

The story of the stack of love letters from long ago is compelling. It would be a wonder to build something sticky enough to exist for that scenario.

@mchang I don't think the stickiness is the issue, because the message far outweighs the medium in that case. In other words, the medium doesn't need to be sticky in order to hold the depth of the meaning. The issue, and the interesting thing, is in the fickleness of modern internet design. For example, I keep thinking of downloading Throwback. The app sends images back to you in the future...so you snap a picture now and in a year you get a message saying "Hey, look what you took a pic of a year ago! Remember that?" I just keep thinking to myself-- Am I really going to even have this app a year from now when it would be meaningful? Love letters were a forced media because other options didn't exist, and you could count on A) paper lasting for a little while and B) a post office. What can we count on these days? Two years from right now I could be saying to a friend, "Dude, remember when we used to design for iPhone instead of our {insert groundbreaking tech you haven't even considered}....wow...." The idea of permanence on the web is something that's just fascinating to me. Think of all the problems that arise with deceased facebook members, for example? We all probably know someone....I even have numbers in my phone of people who have passed away!...so what becomes of that person's page in five years or ten years? My relationship with my wife was held partially on Facebook and our pictures are there and everything....but it isn't "ours"...it's everyone's! ..and that's great...but what is "ours" online that we can count on? :::gets down from soapbox:::

@UXAndrew I think that the medium IS the product (Throwback/Heyday/Between Us). It is the paper and the post office, and it is the thing that needs to be sticky in order for us to be using it and reaping benefits from the depth of the message in any future point in time. Essentially, I agree with you. :)

@mchang When you say sticky I think viral and you mean something that sticks around :)

This landing page is absolutely insane! How did they do that?!