Re: [DotGNU]Interesting interface idea.

[Çaðýl]

John,

IMHO
1)Your views implies a restricted UI. But what I like about GNU systems
is the freedom of choice (GNOME,KDE,Enlightenment,etc.). I think it is
better to focus on the underlying support mechanism that will allow
everyone to choose their own UI style, than the very end-UI part. The
ideas you have written are already possible through
Desktop-Environments, Window Managers, and Themes.
2)dotGNU is (and should be) about technical ideas behind UI. You can
have any type of UI you want with a dotGNU system.

Just my opinion. (sorry for the terrible English)

--- John Rebbeck <address@hidden> wrote:
> I have been thinking about how to make an interface for a PC OS that
> is simple enough for a newbie to use from the word go and powerful
> enough that professionals can use it, I came up with what I believe
> may be a solution and I would like it if it was considered for
> DotGNU.
> 
> First of all you remove (or make un-necessary) the start menu, it's
> old. Second you change the nothingness of the desktop into the
> interface. Third you almost eliminate the windows (making them
> possible but un-necessary for a lot of tasks).
> 
> Down the left side of your screen (150px or so) you have a column of
> image buttons with the optional text (Overview, Communication,
> Information, Work, Programs, Multimedia, Computer, Personal,
> Settings, etc.) and when you click one of these the main area of the
> screen changes to reflect it.
> 
> The overview panel shows information about everything, number of new
> emails, number of messaged waiting, wether or not you are online,
> wether or not new topics have been added to discussions you are
> involved in, etc.
> 
> The communications panel is just that, com's. You have an ICQ style
> list of all your contacts down the right, then in the middle you have
> things like discussions, chat rooms, assistance, tips, etc. that can
> be navigated similar to windows System Tray (the buttons for each
> program open). The contact list should be able to work like ICQ and
> MSN Messenger put together allowing file transfers, conference calls
> (voice and/or video), remote desktop, config transfers, contact
> transfers, etc. You should also be able to invite someone in your
> contact list to use items in your work panel such as project
> management, client management, etc. or even give them the right to
> check your emails for a week while you are away.
> 
> The information panel is where you can look at news, articles,
> reference, books, etc. and you can organise and manage it yourself.
> 
> The work panel contains things like project management, client
> management, order management, employee and contractor management,
> document management, etc.
> 
> The computer panel is basically just so you can manually interact
> with drives and stuff.
> 
> The programs panel displays a few groups, Office, Games, Development,
> Internet, Accessories, etc. and it is self organising to put all your
> installed programs into these categories. It probably should be
> possible for the user to change the organisation though.
> 
> The multimedia panel lets you play music and videos etc. as well as
> rip CDs, convert WAVs to MP3s, burn CDs, download more music, etc.
> 
> The personal panel displays your accounts details, personal
> information, contact list, security options, etc. and allows you to
> manage it.
> 
> The settings panel is like the Windows XP control panel.
> 
> Basically that's it, I think the style of it all should be reasonably
> similar to the new Windows XP login screen, very space age, nice to
> look at, but most importantly clean and easy to use. The colors
> should be silver, blue and orange (I think).
> On each panel if something relates to another panel it may be
> necessary for a command to change the 'currently displayed' panel.
> 
> The push should be towards not using programs for common tasks only
> specialised stuff. Emails are common so have it built into the
> desktop not a standalone application. That is the same with the
> contact list and a lot of other things.
> 
> I also think that rather than making the user organise their PC it
> should be organised for them. Somewhere on the HD there should be the
> folders Music, Downloads, Programs, Reference, Files, Projects, etc.
> which are all rather self explanitory.
> If you download or burn music it automatically gets saved in the
> Music folder, if you want to play music it automatically loads the
> list from your music folder (cached though).
> 
> Along with all this if voice recognition is implemented it could be
> made even easier to use.
> 
> Everyone please tell me what you think. I will keep coming up with
> ideas but I'm sick of typing them at the moment.
> 
> Cheers,
> John
> 


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