WHAT CAN THE BEATLES TEACH US ABOUT
MOBILE WEB DESIGN.
Norm Orstad
HELLO
@norm0
Sr. Designer, :coderow
10+ years design experience, 6 years web
The Beatles
      1960-1970




English rock group formed in 1960. Ended unceremoniously in 1970 after their personal and financial interests collapsed
John&
            Paul&
            Ringo&
            George.

Defined their generation culturally, unexpectedly and unintentionally
THE FAB FOUR




I think I found some lessons that they can teach us about mobile web design
THE FAB FOUR
The BEATLES :: Mobile Web Design




               Beatlemania
The extent of Beatlemania in the United States is evidenced by their single and album sales.
Beatlemania




The Beatles had the Number One single for 59 weeks during their six and half years spanning "I Want to Hold Your Hand"'s first appearance at the top on 1
February 1964 and Let It Be LP's last Number One Week, 4 July 1970.
British Invasion




In the same period they topped the LP charts for 116 weeks. In other words they had the Number One single one out of every six weeks, and the top album one
out of three. [http://thebritishinvasion.info/]
British Invasion




                                              e Beatles arrive at John F. Kennedy International Airport, 7 February 1964




"I Want to Hold Your Hand" had sold 2.6 million copies in the US over the previous two weeks
The BEATLES :: Mobile Web Design




Mobilemania??
Mobile Browsers




whoo! Here is the infamous WAP browsers
Mobile Browsers




loading…
Internet Communications Device




                                                    9th January 2007 iPhone announced




Mr. Jobs introduced us to the mobile safari… OMG!
Mobile-mania?




                                                        iPhone 4s launch in Beijing, 13 January 2012




iPhone 4S launch halted in Beijing as SWAT teams break up violence
Experiment
                Delight
                Define
The three things I think that the beatles can teach us are:

Experiment, to try new things

Delight, to bring a smile

Define, to establish character
Experiment
               Delight
               Define
To try new things
Hell yeah!




No not that kind of experiment
The BEATLES :: Mobile Web Design




                Experiment
               Multi-Tracking
Playback of multiple channels that is synchronized down to on track. Allows the artist to record multiple takes, almost to perfection.
Experiment: Recordings




                                                Dual Track Recordings




Their first two albums, Please Please Me and With the Beatles where recorded on a dual-track recording.
Almost sounds like a live performance.
Experiment: Recordings




                                           First multi-track Recording




*"I want to hold you Hand", October 1963

They could now layer and experiment with multiple variations
Experiment: Recordings




                                               First 8 Track Recording




**"Hey Jude" recorded in July 1968 in Abbey Road Studios and Trident Studios

Ironically by 1968 Abbey Road was outdated!
Experiment: Recordings




                                                          Multi-Tracking




                                                               Studer J37 Multi-track Recorder




Going from 4 tracks mixed down to transferred down to one track(bouncing down) was the ability to keep background noise to a minimum. Abbey Road engineers
where the best at eliminating this noise.

Four tracks also allowed musicians to try quadraphonic sound or 360-degree sound surround like Pink Floyds Dark side of the moon. The commercial application
wasn't quite there, yet!

This however meant that processing (like compression and equalization) would have to be applied during recording, as the tracks could not be separated once
recorded. Still had to create the music linearly unlike todays digital tools for music producers.
The BEATLES :: Mobile Web Design




Experiment
Animations & Transitions
Experiment: Animations & Transitions




  Examples                             http://nclud.com
The BEATLES :: Mobile Web Design




               Experiment
              Artificial Double-Tracking
Tape delay to create a delayed copy of audio. The effect is doubling of the voices. 1966 by Abbey Road Studios Engineers.
Experiment: New Technology




                                                                        ADT




**Tomorrow Never Knows, recorded on April 6, 1966
{Flanging, Tape Loops, Leslie speaker cabinet(amplifier)} John wanted to sound like a thousands of monks
The BEATLES :: Mobile Web Design




Experiment
Multi-touch
Experiment: Multi-touch




Multi-touch
•   Pinch & Zoom          •   Double Tap
•   Drag                  •   Flick
•   Press & Drag          •   One Finger
•   Squeeze               •   Two Fingers
•   Lasso                 •   Spread
•   Cross                 •   Splay
•   Gyroscope             •   …
•   Rotate
Experiment: Multi-touch




            Examples                                         http://github.com/404




uses the accelerometer to create parallax instead of mouse
The BEATLES :: Mobile Web Design




               Experiment
              Classical instruments
George Martin, one of the many mythical fifth beatles, influence and guidance to important to the Beatles explorations. Prior to the beatles Paralophone was know
for classical, baroque music and comedies. The beatles end Martins struggle to get a pop hit. He was the once whom suggested to had the string quartet to
Yesterday.
Experiment: Instruments




                                   Yesterday




String Quartet
Experiment: Technology               The BEATLES :: Mobile Web Design




                     Guitar feedback
                          Samplers
                         Close micing

                         Direct Input

                   Backward Taping
Experiment




   CSS 3.0
   • Animations             • RGBA
   • Transitions            • Media Queries
   • Multiple backgrounds   • Multi-column layouts
   • Rounded Corners        • Web fonts
   • Shadows
Experiment




   HTML 5
   • Geolocation     • Canvas
   • Video           • Dataset
   • Local Storage   • Classlist
   • History API     • Drag and Drop
   • Forms           • Hidden property
   • ARIA            • Websocket
The BEATLES :: Mobile Web Design




               Experiment
               Future Friendly
                              Somewhat
England was late to adopt stereo, Decca in the U.K. kept some mono titles by The Rolling Stones in print through at least the late '70s.
Experiment: Future Friendly




                                                Mono & Stereo Presses




Why two presses?

One most kids only had mono record players at home, because of this the band themselves considered the mono mix the real version.

Stereo was a novelty the record companies wanted to be prepared for. Headphones where not the common case of sharing music.

The albums Yellow Submarine, Abbey Road and Let It Be are not included in a mono print.
Experiment: Future Friendly




                                    Responsive Web Design




great example the bostonglobe.com
Experiment: Future Friendly




                          Responsive Web Design




                   http://www.responsinator.com/
                         http://responsive.is/
                         http://mediaquri.es
The BEATLES :: Mobile Web Design




We have the tools
lets experiment.
Experiment
               Delight
               Define
to put a smile on your face
Delight


• Appeal to your audience
• Emotionally connect with the user
• Context matters
The BEATLES :: Mobile Web Design




"How did you find
America?,"
John replies,
"Turn left at Greenland."
Hard Days Night (Film)
The BEATLES :: Mobile Web Design




Delight
Appeal to your audience
Delight: Appeal to your audience




                                                   Covered others song




Half of Please Please Me, With the Beatles and Beatles for Sale where cover songs

* Please Mr. Postman
* Twist-n-shout
* Money
* You Really Got a Hold On Me
Delight: Appeal to your audience




                                                          FAIL FAST




First two albums where big in the UK but not in the US.
Delight: Appeal to your audience




                                                                   Success




Brian Epstein asked Paul and John to compose a melody that would appeal american listeners.

They came up with I want to hold you hand in the basement of Jane Asher's parents home.
Delight: Appeal to your audience




      Examples                         http://1trickpony.com/sxsw




Audience: SXSW, NERDS,
The BEATLES :: Mobile Web Design




Delight

Emotionally Connect with
the user
Delight: Emotionally connect




                                        Adolescent Romance




At least 25 songs about love
Delight: Emotionally connect




                                            Rebellious Themes




Personification of cultural transformation
Quick witted responses to reporters
Constantly trying to be different
Sexual angst in song lyrics
Delight: Emotionally connect




                                          Bring the music to the people




Bring the music to the people.

First time anyone had thought of filling a venue that large.

55,000 tickets sold out in 17 minutes.
It set records for attendance and revenue generated.
Delight: Emotionally Connect




           Examples                    http://nike.com/jumpman23/aj2012/




AirJordans: Become the greatness!
The BEATLES :: Mobile Web Design




Delight
Context Matters
http://chartingthebeatles.com
Delight: Context Matters




            Examples                http://m.weather.com




Weather sites.
Delight: Context Matters




       Examples                 http://www.sapres.org/mobile/




Church web sites
Experiment
         Delight
         Define
to put a smile on your face
Experiment
         Delight
         Define
Establishing the character of,
Define


•   Don’t Be Afraid to try new styles
•   Originality
•   Be Brief
•   Clear Message
The BEATLES :: Mobile Web Design




"Are you a mod or a
rocker?""
Ringo, "I'm a mocker"
Hard Days Night (Film)
The BEATLES :: Mobile Web Design




Define
Don’t be afraid to
try new styles
Define: Clear Message




                            Music
                         Skiffle
                  Motown, Elvis Presley
                      Music Hall
                        Ballads
                    Bob Dylan, Folk
                   Classical mixtures
                                                                                                          Max Dalton




Be open to outside influences.

After touring they abandoned rock ‘n’ roll, the Beatles gave the world a cluster of hybrid masterpieces


Ar tw o rk Max Dalton
Define: Clear Message




                      Fashion
              Mod Youth Suits
           Paisley Suits and Shirts
         Trousers with floral patterns



                                                                                                           Max Dalton




Helped create a professional approach in delivery and presence. While touring Scotland, they would to smoke and eat on stage.
Define: Clear Message




                        A Hard Days Night Trailer
Define: Clear Message




                    Tv/Films
                   A Hard Days Night
                          Help!
                  Magical Mystery Tour
                   Yellow Submarines
                        Let It Be
                                                                             Max Dalton




All of these except Magical Mystery Tour where financial and critical hits.
The BEATLES :: Mobile Web Design




Define
Originality
ChartingTheBeatles.com
Define: Originality




                                                  Self-penned writing




-contrast to most performers of the day only performed the song
-producing their own material as singer-songwriters
-led to more concept albums, Redefine what an Album meant, not filler songs in between hits songs.
Define: Originality




  Examples            http://m.visitncwine.com
Define: Originality




                                          Set the Standard




Bass, Lead Guitar, Guitar, Drums.

Studio albums lead to more experiments.
Define: Originality




  Examples               http://etsy.com

            E-commerce
The BEATLES :: Mobile Web Design




Define
Be Brief
Define: Be Brief




                                                Constraints of medium




The radio stations at the time only wanted songs less than 3 minutes.
7 inch disc could only contain one song 3-5 minutes.
First song to go over 3 mintues
Define: Be Brief




                                     Constraints of medium




Average touch device size: 320x480

Helps you focus on what matters
The BEATLES :: Mobile Web Design




Define
Clear Message
Yesterday
Define: Clear Message           I'll Follow the Sun
                                I Need You
                                Girl
                                In My Life
                                Words of Love
                                Here, There and
                                Everywhere
                                Something
                                And I Love Her

  Love Songs                    If I Fell
                                I'll Be Back
                                Tell Me What You
At least 25 songs about love.   See
                                Yes It Is
                                Michelle
                                It's Only Love
                                You're Going to Lose
                                That Girl
                                Every Little Thing
                                For No One
                                She's Leaving Home
                                The Long and
                                Winding Road
                                This Boy
                                Norwegian Wood
                                (This Bird Has
                                Flown)
                                You've Got to Hide
                                Your Love Away
Define: Clear Message


                        you     2262


                          I     1736


                         to     1097


                         me     1060


                        love    613



Word Count               my


                         be
                                610


                                497


                         it     466


                        that    466


                         all    437


                        know    436


                        I'm     404


                        your    403


                        don't   401


                         of     369


                         on     368
Define: Clear Message




  Examples              http://colorado.com/m
Experiment
               Delight
               Define
To try new things
Experiment
               Delight
               Define
to put a smile on your face
Experiment
               Delight
               Define
Establishing the character of,
THANKS
Norm Orstad
norm@coderow.com
Sr. Designer, :coderow
@norm0

Beatles&webdesign

  • 1.
    WHAT CAN THEBEATLES TEACH US ABOUT MOBILE WEB DESIGN. Norm Orstad
  • 2.
    HELLO @norm0 Sr. Designer, :coderow 10+years design experience, 6 years web
  • 4.
    The Beatles 1960-1970 English rock group formed in 1960. Ended unceremoniously in 1970 after their personal and financial interests collapsed
  • 5.
    John& Paul& Ringo& George. Defined their generation culturally, unexpectedly and unintentionally
  • 6.
    THE FAB FOUR Ithink I found some lessons that they can teach us about mobile web design
  • 7.
  • 8.
    The BEATLES ::Mobile Web Design Beatlemania The extent of Beatlemania in the United States is evidenced by their single and album sales.
  • 9.
    Beatlemania The Beatles hadthe Number One single for 59 weeks during their six and half years spanning "I Want to Hold Your Hand"'s first appearance at the top on 1 February 1964 and Let It Be LP's last Number One Week, 4 July 1970.
  • 10.
    British Invasion In thesame period they topped the LP charts for 116 weeks. In other words they had the Number One single one out of every six weeks, and the top album one out of three. [http://thebritishinvasion.info/]
  • 11.
    British Invasion e Beatles arrive at John F. Kennedy International Airport, 7 February 1964 "I Want to Hold Your Hand" had sold 2.6 million copies in the US over the previous two weeks
  • 12.
    The BEATLES ::Mobile Web Design Mobilemania??
  • 13.
    Mobile Browsers whoo! Hereis the infamous WAP browsers
  • 14.
  • 15.
    Internet Communications Device 9th January 2007 iPhone announced Mr. Jobs introduced us to the mobile safari… OMG!
  • 16.
    Mobile-mania? iPhone 4s launch in Beijing, 13 January 2012 iPhone 4S launch halted in Beijing as SWAT teams break up violence
  • 17.
    Experiment Delight Define The three things I think that the beatles can teach us are: Experiment, to try new things Delight, to bring a smile Define, to establish character
  • 18.
    Experiment Delight Define To try new things
  • 19.
    Hell yeah! No notthat kind of experiment
  • 20.
    The BEATLES ::Mobile Web Design Experiment Multi-Tracking Playback of multiple channels that is synchronized down to on track. Allows the artist to record multiple takes, almost to perfection.
  • 21.
    Experiment: Recordings Dual Track Recordings Their first two albums, Please Please Me and With the Beatles where recorded on a dual-track recording. Almost sounds like a live performance.
  • 22.
    Experiment: Recordings First multi-track Recording *"I want to hold you Hand", October 1963 They could now layer and experiment with multiple variations
  • 23.
    Experiment: Recordings First 8 Track Recording **"Hey Jude" recorded in July 1968 in Abbey Road Studios and Trident Studios Ironically by 1968 Abbey Road was outdated!
  • 24.
    Experiment: Recordings Multi-Tracking Studer J37 Multi-track Recorder Going from 4 tracks mixed down to transferred down to one track(bouncing down) was the ability to keep background noise to a minimum. Abbey Road engineers where the best at eliminating this noise. Four tracks also allowed musicians to try quadraphonic sound or 360-degree sound surround like Pink Floyds Dark side of the moon. The commercial application wasn't quite there, yet! This however meant that processing (like compression and equalization) would have to be applied during recording, as the tracks could not be separated once recorded. Still had to create the music linearly unlike todays digital tools for music producers.
  • 25.
    The BEATLES ::Mobile Web Design Experiment Animations & Transitions
  • 26.
    Experiment: Animations &Transitions Examples http://nclud.com
  • 27.
    The BEATLES ::Mobile Web Design Experiment Artificial Double-Tracking Tape delay to create a delayed copy of audio. The effect is doubling of the voices. 1966 by Abbey Road Studios Engineers.
  • 28.
    Experiment: New Technology ADT **Tomorrow Never Knows, recorded on April 6, 1966 {Flanging, Tape Loops, Leslie speaker cabinet(amplifier)} John wanted to sound like a thousands of monks
  • 29.
    The BEATLES ::Mobile Web Design Experiment Multi-touch
  • 30.
    Experiment: Multi-touch Multi-touch • Pinch & Zoom • Double Tap • Drag • Flick • Press & Drag • One Finger • Squeeze • Two Fingers • Lasso • Spread • Cross • Splay • Gyroscope • … • Rotate
  • 31.
    Experiment: Multi-touch Examples http://github.com/404 uses the accelerometer to create parallax instead of mouse
  • 32.
    The BEATLES ::Mobile Web Design Experiment Classical instruments George Martin, one of the many mythical fifth beatles, influence and guidance to important to the Beatles explorations. Prior to the beatles Paralophone was know for classical, baroque music and comedies. The beatles end Martins struggle to get a pop hit. He was the once whom suggested to had the string quartet to Yesterday.
  • 33.
    Experiment: Instruments Yesterday String Quartet
  • 34.
    Experiment: Technology The BEATLES :: Mobile Web Design Guitar feedback Samplers Close micing Direct Input Backward Taping
  • 35.
    Experiment CSS 3.0 • Animations • RGBA • Transitions • Media Queries • Multiple backgrounds • Multi-column layouts • Rounded Corners • Web fonts • Shadows
  • 36.
    Experiment HTML 5 • Geolocation • Canvas • Video • Dataset • Local Storage • Classlist • History API • Drag and Drop • Forms • Hidden property • ARIA • Websocket
  • 37.
    The BEATLES ::Mobile Web Design Experiment Future Friendly Somewhat England was late to adopt stereo, Decca in the U.K. kept some mono titles by The Rolling Stones in print through at least the late '70s.
  • 38.
    Experiment: Future Friendly Mono & Stereo Presses Why two presses? One most kids only had mono record players at home, because of this the band themselves considered the mono mix the real version. Stereo was a novelty the record companies wanted to be prepared for. Headphones where not the common case of sharing music. The albums Yellow Submarine, Abbey Road and Let It Be are not included in a mono print.
  • 39.
    Experiment: Future Friendly Responsive Web Design great example the bostonglobe.com
  • 40.
    Experiment: Future Friendly Responsive Web Design http://www.responsinator.com/ http://responsive.is/ http://mediaquri.es
  • 41.
    The BEATLES ::Mobile Web Design We have the tools lets experiment.
  • 42.
    Experiment Delight Define to put a smile on your face
  • 43.
    Delight • Appeal toyour audience • Emotionally connect with the user • Context matters
  • 44.
    The BEATLES ::Mobile Web Design "How did you find America?," John replies, "Turn left at Greenland." Hard Days Night (Film)
  • 45.
    The BEATLES ::Mobile Web Design Delight Appeal to your audience
  • 46.
    Delight: Appeal toyour audience Covered others song Half of Please Please Me, With the Beatles and Beatles for Sale where cover songs * Please Mr. Postman * Twist-n-shout * Money * You Really Got a Hold On Me
  • 47.
    Delight: Appeal toyour audience FAIL FAST First two albums where big in the UK but not in the US.
  • 48.
    Delight: Appeal toyour audience Success Brian Epstein asked Paul and John to compose a melody that would appeal american listeners. They came up with I want to hold you hand in the basement of Jane Asher's parents home.
  • 49.
    Delight: Appeal toyour audience Examples http://1trickpony.com/sxsw Audience: SXSW, NERDS,
  • 50.
    The BEATLES ::Mobile Web Design Delight Emotionally Connect with the user
  • 51.
    Delight: Emotionally connect Adolescent Romance At least 25 songs about love
  • 52.
    Delight: Emotionally connect Rebellious Themes Personification of cultural transformation Quick witted responses to reporters Constantly trying to be different Sexual angst in song lyrics
  • 53.
    Delight: Emotionally connect Bring the music to the people Bring the music to the people. First time anyone had thought of filling a venue that large. 55,000 tickets sold out in 17 minutes. It set records for attendance and revenue generated.
  • 54.
    Delight: Emotionally Connect Examples http://nike.com/jumpman23/aj2012/ AirJordans: Become the greatness!
  • 55.
    The BEATLES ::Mobile Web Design Delight Context Matters
  • 56.
  • 58.
    Delight: Context Matters Examples http://m.weather.com Weather sites.
  • 59.
    Delight: Context Matters Examples http://www.sapres.org/mobile/ Church web sites
  • 60.
    Experiment Delight Define to put a smile on your face
  • 61.
    Experiment Delight Define Establishing the character of,
  • 62.
    Define • Don’t Be Afraid to try new styles • Originality • Be Brief • Clear Message
  • 63.
    The BEATLES ::Mobile Web Design "Are you a mod or a rocker?"" Ringo, "I'm a mocker" Hard Days Night (Film)
  • 64.
    The BEATLES ::Mobile Web Design Define Don’t be afraid to try new styles
  • 65.
    Define: Clear Message Music Skiffle Motown, Elvis Presley Music Hall Ballads Bob Dylan, Folk Classical mixtures Max Dalton Be open to outside influences. After touring they abandoned rock ‘n’ roll, the Beatles gave the world a cluster of hybrid masterpieces Ar tw o rk Max Dalton
  • 66.
    Define: Clear Message Fashion Mod Youth Suits Paisley Suits and Shirts Trousers with floral patterns Max Dalton Helped create a professional approach in delivery and presence. While touring Scotland, they would to smoke and eat on stage.
  • 67.
    Define: Clear Message A Hard Days Night Trailer
  • 68.
    Define: Clear Message Tv/Films A Hard Days Night Help! Magical Mystery Tour Yellow Submarines Let It Be Max Dalton All of these except Magical Mystery Tour where financial and critical hits.
  • 69.
    The BEATLES ::Mobile Web Design Define Originality
  • 70.
  • 71.
    Define: Originality Self-penned writing -contrast to most performers of the day only performed the song -producing their own material as singer-songwriters -led to more concept albums, Redefine what an Album meant, not filler songs in between hits songs.
  • 74.
    Define: Originality Examples http://m.visitncwine.com
  • 75.
    Define: Originality Set the Standard Bass, Lead Guitar, Guitar, Drums. Studio albums lead to more experiments.
  • 78.
    Define: Originality Examples http://etsy.com E-commerce
  • 79.
    The BEATLES ::Mobile Web Design Define Be Brief
  • 80.
    Define: Be Brief Constraints of medium The radio stations at the time only wanted songs less than 3 minutes. 7 inch disc could only contain one song 3-5 minutes. First song to go over 3 mintues
  • 81.
    Define: Be Brief Constraints of medium Average touch device size: 320x480 Helps you focus on what matters
  • 82.
    The BEATLES ::Mobile Web Design Define Clear Message
  • 83.
    Yesterday Define: Clear Message I'll Follow the Sun I Need You Girl In My Life Words of Love Here, There and Everywhere Something And I Love Her Love Songs If I Fell I'll Be Back Tell Me What You At least 25 songs about love. See Yes It Is Michelle It's Only Love You're Going to Lose That Girl Every Little Thing For No One She's Leaving Home The Long and Winding Road This Boy Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown) You've Got to Hide Your Love Away
  • 84.
    Define: Clear Message you 2262 I 1736 to 1097 me 1060 love 613 Word Count my be 610 497 it 466 that 466 all 437 know 436 I'm 404 your 403 don't 401 of 369 on 368
  • 85.
    Define: Clear Message Examples http://colorado.com/m
  • 86.
    Experiment Delight Define To try new things
  • 87.
    Experiment Delight Define to put a smile on your face
  • 88.
    Experiment Delight Define Establishing the character of,
  • 89.