Swissmiss points to an interesting video on open design which is well worth a look.
While 'beta' seems to be appended to almost every new service today, what it signifies is really important. There was a time not so long ago where all products were shipped in a final, finished state. Then, after a year or two, a new version would ship with a bunch of new features. And so it would continue.
The beta mindset is different. It doesn't assume that any product is ever truly finished. Everything is work in progress. And because of this, it invites co-creation and collaboration from users. It fosters a different kind of relationship – and a healthier one at that.
Take a look:
Delivered in Beta from KS12 on Vimeo.