In 2003, Alan and Priscilla mounted a WiFi-enabled iBook on their kitchen wall. It was an early glimpse at the Future, but we certainly did not envision what it would lead to.
Digital cameras were starting to become popular, and the worldwide web was rapidly evolving into a very visual place. Digital photo frames were also popping up. It seemed only natural to combine everything together.
The main missing piece was some software, which Alan’s Open Door Networks was able to create: “Envision: the new way to experience the web” shipped in July 2004. The Macintosh application would let users browse websites by displaying the visual pieces of those sites full screen in automated slide shows.
Alan had big plans for Envision, showing it off at the Macworld trade show in San Francisco in January 2005. It was also highlighted as part of the show’s “Digital Art Gallery.”
Open Door also started to publish weekly “Web shows,” which highlighted websites that displayed particularly well through Envision. Art sites were among the most popular of these.
Sometimes (often) things don’t go as planned when you try to invent the Future. Envision didn’t end up in most of the places Alan thought it would. Two years later though, again at Macworld SF, Steve Jobs announced a new device called the iPhone. And Envision ended up there. And far beyond.
Lots more to come…