Some examples: real time status updates – before Twitter, users were trying to use offline messages in messenger services – “stepping out for lunch” – an indication that a real time status update service was needed. Reddit’s AMA (Ask Me Anything) is another example
Ask HN: What are some examples where users are inventing new uses for a product?
1–10 of 24 posts
Re: Ask HN: What are some examples where users are inventing new uses for a product?
#2Inkscape Extensions: e.g. laser and vinyl cut/plot
Re: Ask HN: What are some examples where users are inventing new uses for a product?
#3Twitter Hashtags were originally invented by users.
Re: Ask HN: What are some examples where users are inventing new uses for a product?
#4[deleted]
Re: Ask HN: What are some examples where users are inventing new uses for a product?
#5- Amazon reviews as a form of literature
- Fanfic people inventing new ways to use pinboard.
Re: Ask HN: What are some examples where users are inventing new uses for a product?
#6Any application used within any organisation will eventually be used to communicate notes between users. Shared calendars get polluted with non-appointments like "Hi Jane, thanks for referring Bob, but please be aware of blah protocol doc." CRM systems get polluted with non-customer data, such as "see emails of Dec 2021" in the address field.
Basically, the tighter a developer controls the business flow, the more creatively users will break it.
Re: Ask HN: What are some examples where users are inventing new uses for a product?
#7zip ties as handcuffs. tampons for treating gunshot wounds in the field. irons for straightening hair. GPS for geocaching. Sudafed for making meth. TV dongles for RTL-SDR. using the stepper motor as a speaker on the Apple I. CD drives as cupholders. calendar invites as OOF messages. old-school emojis :)
Re: Ask HN: What are some examples where users are inventing new uses for a product?
#8zip ties as handcuffs. tampons for treating gunshot wounds in the field. irons for straightening hair. GPS for geocaching. Sudafed for making meth. TV dongles for RTL-SDR. using the stepper motor as a speaker on the Apple I. CD drives as cupholders. calendar invites as OOF messages. old-school emojis :)
What's OOF?
Re: Ask HN: What are some examples where users are inventing new uses for a product?
#9[deleted]
Re: Ask HN: What are some examples where users are inventing new uses for a product?
#10zip ties as handcuffs. tampons for treating gunshot wounds in the field. irons for straightening hair. GPS for geocaching. Sudafed for making meth. TV dongles for RTL-SDR. using the stepper motor as a speaker on the Apple I. CD drives as cupholders. calendar invites as OOF messages. old-school emojis :)
What's OOF?
[deleted]