ajax & web applications
Wondering how the latest cool web stuff works? Doesn’t it seem like things suddenly got a lot better out there? Look at the ajax explanation for a bunch of Google technologies and A9, the yellow pages app on Amazon. Then go try Google Suggest if you haven’t yet. It’s like they combined a random text search engine and directory listings in one UI – amazingly useful due to low interaction overhead and very simple in concept. (Although note that it piggybacks on a UI/IE feature from which many users may expect different behavior – which worries me a tiny bit.)