Bacn is a new term (and one which may not be around long) but I like it. It’s used to describe — in contrast to SPAM — email which you want, but not right now. An example? Facebook or LinkedIn notifications, shipping reminders, or Netflix notices of “we’ve received Fast Times at Ridgemont High.” These are messages which you would like to review, but which you’d prefer not interrupt your day.
Bacn is an example of one description of an indication that users want attention relevant computing. For an immediate (and memorable!) example, consider this: toilets know when you are sitting in front of them, but your computer does not.
If the computer could tell when we’re paying attention to it — or if it could automatically assess the attention required for any particular “alert” or message it displayed — then the whole experience would be more fulfilling. Users’ desire to set up rules to do this for themselves is why we see terms like Bacn.
As an etailer, recognize that Bacn is of secondary importance to users — but still important. Make yours crispy.
What a wonderfully well-reasoned consideration of the term — and the reason behind its existence. It may have begun as a punchline, but as they say, there’s a kernel of truth in every joke.
As for attention-relevant computing, you’re on the right track. I think people simply want their lives to make (common) sense, and being able to classify information quickly is imperative to making proactive choices.
Otherwise, we’ll spend all day reading our Facebook wall post notifications and getting nothing done…
Justin,
Thanks for the comment. You and I are of the same mind I think… when I first saw Bacn I thought “oh no… not another one…” but then I realized that there is something bigger going on here — especially since I was immediately able to mentally separate my own email inbox into Spam, Bacn, and …. _______. (< – insert some other vowel free term here.
It appears that my “blank” above may already be filled in: with “sausage.”
(sigh)
http://www.bacn2.com/?p=5