Re: [Ayatana] Thoughts on quitting and window controls

[Frederik Nnaji <frederik.nnaji@xxxxxxxxx>]

On Wed, May 5, 2010 at 00:05, Jonathan Blackhall <johnny.one.eye@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

After reading Mark's post yesterday
(http://www.markshuttleworth.com/archives/333) I began to wonder
whether this was a great opportunity for his Windicators.  For
example, something like the "eye" button seems like it would be an
interesting way to "hide" a window, but still have the application
accessible via its indicator applet.

Hi Johnathan,

i think the "eye" thing was suggested elsewhere, or was it you?
The eye you propose exerts an ambiguous semiosis: I can imagine "the 
eye" to notify about webcam or video-capture activity also... There are 
dozens of ways to associate this particular metaphor in a modern DE, not
 to speak of the Orwellian ones ;)  -  Difficult for me to judge if it 
would make sense consistently with your proposal..


Much of the problem you are describing would be addressed in interaction 
design, not window decoration. There are different interaction types 
with windows in our DE to begin with, some are passive, some more active, some require full attention.. to dismiss windows more intelligently and to bring them back into focus more intelligently would solve your problem, not yet another discussion about what window control button would come before what other window control button in an often totally redundant title bar.

that's of course IMO ;)