OpenID RP Interfaces
A quick history, and button driven sign-in.
Brian Ellin
brian@janrain.com

Why OpenID?
Sign in using an account you
already have.
Brian Ellin
brian@janrain.com

Two types of users
1. Those who have heard about
OpenID
2. Those that have not
* Chris Messina http://tr.im/mturk_openid
Brian Ellin
brian@janrain.com

The First OpenID UI
Identifier driven sign-in
* https://my.pbwiki.com?p=openid
Brian Ellin
brian@janrain.com

User must already have...
1. Heard of OpenID
2. Understand OpenID
3. Have an OpenID
4. Know what URL to type
Brian Ellin
brian@janrain.com

While many do succeed,
others fail
bce123
Brian Ellin
brian@janrain.com

While many succeed,
others fail
user@email.com
Brian Ellin
brian@janrain.com

While many succeed,
others fail
friendster
Brian Ellin
brian@janrain.com

While many succeed,
others fail
Hotmail
Brian Ellin
brian@janrain.com

While many succeed,
others fail
elderly
Brian Ellin
brian@janrain.com

While many succeed,
others fail
I HATE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!LADY GAAAGGGGAAGAGAGAG
Brian Ellin
brian@janrain.com

While many succeed,
others fail
Brian Ellin
brian@janrain.com

Brian Ellin
brian@janrain.com

Early attempts
Help the user figure out OpenID by pattern
Brian Ellin
brian@janrain.com

Interactive versions
TypePad
Brian Ellin
brian@janrain.com

Interactive versions
Mapquest.com
Brian Ellin
brian@janrain.com

Interactive versions
blogger.com comments
Brian Ellin
brian@janrain.com

Interactive Versions
idselector
Brian Ellin
brian@janrain.com

Interactive Versions
Clickpass
Brian Ellin
brian@janrain.com

Provider driven sign-in
yahoo.com
Brian Ellin
brian@janrain.com

Leads to provider-
choice based interfaces
Brian Ellin
brian@janrain.com

Users identify with
different brands
Example: Interscope Records / AFI
Brian Ellin
brian@janrain.com

Uservoice
Brian Ellin
brian@janrain.com

Sulit.com.ph
Brian Ellin
brian@janrain.com

A choice of providers
RPX Plaxo
Brian Ellin
brian@janrain.com

That also supports identifier
driven sign-in
RPX Plaxo
Brian Ellin
brian@janrain.com

Challenges facing
button driven sign-in
• Multiple brand affinities:
“I trust Google and Yahoo!”
• Unclear which will choice provide the best
experience. Brand is king.
Brian Ellin
brian@janrain.com

Return user experience
Can be optimized by remembering a user’s provider.
But, the choice will be lost when switching computers or browsers
Brian Ellin
brian@janrain.com

Changing providers on
the return visit is bad.
Many users do not understand that changing from
Google to Yahoo will sign them in to a different account.
https://me.yahoo.com/a/K50GPxAQlP7SurZs6H30Q0PnmAs-#45323
https://www.google.com/accounts/o8/id?id=AItOawl8skT4dN5ioUHAo5wDgtopkYcR1HvZZxM
Brian Ellin
brian@janrain.com

Cannot remove choices
X
Anyone who has used that provider won’t be able to
sign-in again
Brian Ellin
brian@janrain.com

Every RP has different needs
and a different audience...
Brian Ellin
brian@janrain.com