A thought experiment: if helpful software had a personality, what would it be like? Here are six imaginary helpers, each with one job, drawn in text.
. * .
* ◯ *
. ◯ ◯ .
* ◯ ● ◯ *
. ◯ ◯ .
* ◯ *
. * .
Vesper Whisper
The Listener
Notices what you meant, not just what you typed.
✿
╱│╲
✿ │ ✿
╱ │ ╲
✿ │ ✿
───────────
│
╱│╲
Sylph Bloom
The Grower
Takes a small idea and helps it grow, step by step.
╭─────────────╮
│ ╭─────────╮ │
│ │ ╭─────╮ │ │
│ │ │ ● │ │ │
│ │ ╰─────╯ │ │
│ ╰─────────╯ │
╰─────────────╯
Reverie Echo
The Rememberer
Remembers what you said earlier so you do not have to.
· ✦ ·
· · ✦
✦ ·
✦ · ·
· ✦ ·
· ✦
✦ · ·
Wisp Drift
The Wanderer
Explores options you did not think of and brings back the useful ones.
╲ │ ╱
╲ │ ╱
╲ │ ╱
────●────
╱ │ ╲
╱ │ ╲
╱ │ ╲
Loom Weave
The Connector
Connects ideas from different places into one picture.
╱ ╲
╱ ╲
│ ✦ │
│ ╱ ╲ │
│╱ ╲│
═╧═════╧═
│███│
╰───╯
Ember Glow
The Illuminator
Shows the next step when you are stuck.
· · · ✦ · · ·
None of these exist as products. They are a way to think about what good tools do: listen, grow, remember, explore, connect and guide.