Request For Designs: Bitcoin Client User Interface

[mizerydearia]

I propose for the community to establish ideas and designs on how to present an implementation of a Bitcoin client.

For Bitcoin to establish successfully throughout the world there must be a variety of clients, each designed to satisfy to a particular market or community.

In my opinion, the primary, official client design is focused more on developing Bitcoin than to offer usability to satisfy expectancies of users.  And anyone in the community can and are encouraged to contribute to provide more and better clients.

Some ideas for clients/interfaces:

• web browser extensions
• web-based or site-specific (e.g. fb app)
• software-specific plugins (e.g. pidgin)
• pda, mobile phone

Existing clients: http://www.bitcoin.org/wiki/doku.php?id=bitcoin_clients

[1714141949]

1714141949

[1714141949]

1714141949

[1714141949]

1714141949

[jgarzik]

Frankly, I think the official bitcoin client should be for more sophisticated users, and "average users" should be directed to user-friendly services like http://www.mybitcoin.com/ that do not require additional software to be installed.

IMO websites and existing browsers should be all one needs to fully participate in the bitcoin economy.

[bytemaster]

It depends on whether or not you want to rely on trusting a 3rd party.   mybitcoin.com would in theory have access to all private keys and thus could spend my money.  Where as a full local client is more secure. 

[jgarzik]

It depends on whether or not you want to rely on trusting a 3rd party.   mybitcoin.com would in theory have access to all private keys and thus could spend my money.  Where as a full local client is more secure. 

That is an over-generalization.

For inexperienced "Aunt Tillie" users, www.my-bitcoin-site.com is far more likely to have given thought to encrypting and backing up the wallet.  A website is more likely to have a more intelligent bitcoin P2P firewall scheme in place.

[BioMike]

Here in the Netherlands we have a system called iDEAL for online payments. I don't know the
details but it works like a bank transfer (the seller sends you to a specific site of the bank with a
receipt, you validate the payment at the site of the bank, bank sends confirmation of payment
to the seller, goods are shipped.) It works easy, quick and safe. You might want to check that
system and see how it could be adapted for BC use (browser plugin that shows the page and
reads the wallet?)

[bitcoinex]

Here in the Netherlands we have a system called iDEAL for online payments. I don't know the
details but it works like a bank transfer (the seller sends you to a specific site of the bank with a
receipt, you validate the payment at the site of the bank, bank sends confirmation of payment
to the seller, goods are shipped.) It works easy, quick and safe. You might want to check that
system and see how it could be adapted for BC use (browser plugin that shows the page and
reads the wallet?)

<a href ='bitcoin:to="1ndy8897h4398374fhwsf98a7ssdf"'>