Request to consider creation of the User Interface Work Group
Allen Tom
atom at yahoo-inc.com
Fri Feb 20 15:19:36 PST 2009
Hi Specs Council,
Please consider the attached proposal to form the User Interface Work Group.
http://wiki.openid.net/OpenID-User-Interface-Work-Group-Proposal
Charter Proposal
In accordance with the OpenID Foundation IPR policies and procedures
this note proposes the formation of a new working group chartered to
produce an OpenID specification. As per Section 4.1 of the Policies, the
proposed charter is below (still liable to change during this feedback
period).
Name
OpenID User Interface Working Group
Background Information
OpenID traditionally requires the Relying Party to redirect the entire
browser window to the OpenID Provider for the user to authenticate
before redirecting the browser back to the Relying Party. It is believed
that the User Experience (UX) could be significantly improved if the
authentication flow occurred within a smaller popup window, making the
experience less disruptive to the user.
Although it is possible for Relying Parties to open a popup window for
the user to authenticate at the OpenID Provider using the Provider's
default user interface, the overall user experience can be optimized if
the OP was aware that its UI was running within a popup. For instance,
an OP may want to resize the popup browser window when using the popup
interface, but would probably not want to resize the full browser window
when using the default redirect interface. Another optimization is that
the OP can close the popup, rather than return a negative assertion if
the user chooses to cancel the authentication request.
Users who begin the OpenID sign in process on a Relying Party in one
language and then transition to their OpenID Provider's site in a
different language may find the overall experience to be very
disruptive. In many cases, the Relying Party may want to pass a language
hint to the OpenID Provider to use to display the User Interface to the
user, especially if the user is not already authenticated at the OP.
Statement of Purpose
This workgroup intends to produce a very brief OpenID extension to
enable the OpenID Authentication User Interface to be invoked in a
standalone popup window, and to allow the Relying Party to request that
the user interface be displayed in a particular language.
Scope
Produce an extension that allows an OpenID Provider to indicate its
support of a popup friendly user interface, as opposed to the default
user interface optimized for a full browser window. The popup must be in
an independent browser window, and must not be framed by the RP.
The extension will also define a mechanim for RPs to pass a language
hint to the OP to help determine the langange used to display the OpenID
Authentication user interface.
Out of Scope
The content of the user interface other than the language that the
interface is displayed in is out of scope.
Specifications
OpenID User Interface Extension 1.0
Anticipated audience
All those interested in improving OpenID Usability.
Language of business
English.
Method of work
Mailing list discussion. Posting of intermediate drafts in the OpenID
Wiki. Virtual conferencing on an ad-hoc basis.
Basis for completion of the activity
The OpenID User Interface Extension 1.0 final draft is completed.
Proposers
* Allen Tom, atom at yahoo-inc.com, Yahoo!
* Brian Ellin, brian at janrain.com, Janrain
* David Recordon, david at sixapart.com, Six Apart
* Chris Messina, chris at citizenagency.com, Vidoop/DiSo Project
* Breno de Medeiros, breno at google.com, Google
* Luke Shepard, lshepard at facebook.com, Facebook
Initial Editors
* Allen Tom, atom at yahoo-inc.com, Yahoo!
* Breno de Medeiros, breno at google.com, Google
More information about the specs
mailing list