Blog Post

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In Modern Software Development, User Experience Plays a Central Role

Products that remain functionally the same can be evaluated very differently depending on external circumstances. This leads us to an intriguing thought: What if we could predict and adjust user behavior and app ratings based on external factors like weather or time of day?

This approach, based on psychological phenomena like weather sensitivity and concepts from genetics, particularly the phenotype theory, could help optimize how we query feedback and ratings in our apps.

 

Phenotypic Software: Dynamic Adaptation to External Circumstances

In genetics, the phenotype describes how an organism adapts based on the same genetic information to different environmental conditions. The genetic code remains constant, but the outward appearance or behavior can vary depending on environmental influences. An example is twins, where one spends time in space, and their body develops differently due to weightlessness compared to their brother on Earth. Another example is skin adaptation to sunlight: although the genetic code remains the same, the skin darkens to protect against harmful sun effects.

This concept can be transferred to software. The core framework of an app—the code—remains unchanged, but the app can dynamically adjust to external circumstances, just like a phenotype. For instance, an app could:

• Change design and features based on lighting conditions or weather,
• Withhold or adjust notifications and prompts, such as requests for ratings, based on emotional state or external environment.

This is where the idea of phenotypic software comes into play: applications that respond to external circumstances to optimize the user experience.

 

The Influence of External Circumstances on App Ratings

A specific scenario I've observed is the relationship between weather and app ratings. Even if the quality of an app remains constant, users are more inclined to give lower ratings in bad weather. This is because external circumstances, like dreary weather or poor lighting, negatively impact mood, thus coloring their perception of the app.

This raises an exciting question: Why should we always ask for ratings at the same times and in the same situations when we know that external factors like weather affect mood?

Here's how phenotypic software could enhance user behavior and app ratings: the app could skip the request for a rating during bad weather, as the likelihood of a negative rating increases. Instead, it could actively prompt users on sunny, bright days—when they are likely in a better mood—to leave a rating. By strategically managing rating requests, we can not only enhance the user experience but also positively influence the overall rating of the app in the long term.

 

Phenotypic Software Today: Manual Adjustments vs. Automation

Currently, there are already manual adjustments that can somewhat be seen as phenotypic. Users can customize their software through profile settings like color schemes, language, or layout according to their preferences. However, these adjustments are static and require the user to intervene actively.

The future, however, leans towards automated adjustments: software that dynamically adapts to the environment and emotional state of the user without requiring active user intervention. Examples might include:

• Weather-based adjustments: The app recognizes it is raining and dark and adjusts its design or features to provide a more pleasant user experience.
• Lighting conditions: The app could change its brightness or color scheme based on the room's lighting to ease the user's eyes.
• Mood-based adjustments: The app could assess the user's mood through simple questions or even emotional detection via camera before work and adjust functions and notifications accordingly.

 

App Ratings and Phenotypic Software: A Synergy

By intelligently responding to external circumstances, an app creates a better user experience and optimizes the timing for interaction with users. Controlling rating requests based on the weather is an example of how an app can dynamically improve feedback management.

Imagine an app could recognize that it is a gray, rainy day and refrain from displaying a request for a rating on that day. Instead, it could present the request on a sunny day when users are in a better mood and the likelihood of a positive rating increases. This targeted interaction would enhance the user's experience while also positively influencing the app's overall rating.

Through this dynamic adaptation to external circumstances, phenotypic software can keep the genetic code (the app code) unchanged while optimizing the user experience situationally, much like how an organism's phenotype develops in different environments.

 

Conclusion: Psychology and Genetics as Inspiration for Software Development

Integrating psychological and genetic concepts like phenotype theory into software development opens exciting new possibilities. By recognizing how external influences change user behavior, we can create software that is not only functional but also context-aware and intelligent. This could be the key to enhancing user experiences and creating applications that dynamically adapt to the needs and emotions of users.

The future of software development may lie in not just optimizing the functionality of a product but also actively considering the context in which it is used. This is the next step toward truly user-centered digital products.