unity-design team mailing list archive

[Yann Lossouarn <yann@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I understand what you mean with "dusty past", but... when we speak about "how to minimize / maximize a window" (either with buttons or a "gesturable button", we're still working on "how to manage dust", and not really on how to vacuum clean it up. :) More clearly, I think that if we remain in a simple WIMP philosophy, we've to target performance : button windows are straightforward, their learning curve is flat (not saying inexistent), and they only need a single action (click) to be used. Any change on these buttons should aim at something which is better, meaning "advantages without any drawback". My opinion is that providing the same feature as before (min/maximizing) in a way that needs more actions to be performed by the user is not good.

The "zeitgeist" mockup is interesting food for thoughts. Some kind of task oriented approach of window management may be interesting. I think there's been studies about desktops implementing things like that (WindowScape, GroupBar, or Scalable Fabric, notably). The general idea is to provide users with an additional level in windows management, allowing a task oriented approach (windows related to a common task are grouped together). Basically, I feel this additionnal level exists, under Ubuntu/Gnome : virtual desktops. But maybe working on a better way to integrate them in everyday use and lambda users would be interesting ?

yann @ lossouarn . net 



----- "David Siegel" <david.siegel@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> a écrit :

> I think maximize, minimize, and close are taken for granted -- they're
> unquestioned assumptions carried over from a dusty desktop computing
> past. Frankly, I'm not convinced that any of these buttons are worth
> the price paid by users in time spent thinking about how to arrange
> their windows.
> 
> Anyway, that's a separate discussion. I don't think replacing a
> single-click to minimize, for example, with a single-click with a
> pull-and-release is replacing "direct access" with "indirect access."
> 
> When manipulating the other button, hints could be drawn on the screen
> -- for example, pull to the right and see a nice overlay/silhouette of
> the right-maximized state of the window.\
> 
> David
> 
> 
> 
> 
> On Fri, Mar 26, 2010 at 10:20 AM, Allan Caeg < allancaeg@xxxxxxxxx >
> wrote:
> 
> 
> 
> Cool. That "other" button can be rendered like a joystick. The idea
> would be disorienting to a lot of people haven't read the manual,
> though. Perhaps, there has to be instructions like a fresh iPhones
> "hold an icon to drag it or remove the application" thing
> 
> Allan
> 
> 
> 
> 
> On Friday, 26 March, 2010 05:46 PM, David Siegel wrote:
> 
> Pablo, awesome! I was just sketching something almost exactly like
> this... My concept was a bit simpler but still very sophisticated:
> 
> * Replace Close, Min, Max buttons with just Close and "other"
> * Dragging the "other" button slightly to the right and releasing
> maximizes the window to full the right half of the screen ("maximize
> right").
> * Dragging the "other" button slightly to the left and releasing
> maximizes the window to full the left half of the screen ("maximize
> left").
> * Dragging down minimizes.
> * Dragging up maximizes.
> * Dragging and shaking minimizes all other windows.
> * Shift-clicking on the "other" button on multiple windows groups
> them, tiling the group and minimizes all other windows when shift is
> released.
> * Clicking the "other" button shows a menu with all of the actions
> above, with shapes that demonstrate the associated gestures.
> 
> As you can see, featuritis immediately sets in when we have an "other"
> button, but I think we're on to something! Let's continue the
> discussion and see if anyone can help us prototype :)
> 
> David
> 
> 
> 2010/3/26 Mark Shuttleworth < mark@xxxxxxxxxx >
> 
> 
> 
> Hi folks
> 
> Got this interesting proposal from Pablo, and thought it should be
> sent to the list rather than handled in private correspondence. It
> reminds me of something David Siegel was sketching out, also inspired
> by the challenge of "how we can make the most of the new space".
> 
> Pablo, if you're not subscribed to Ayatana, it's the best place to
> sketch out a proposal like this.
> 
> I appreciate both the detail in the proposal and the relaxed way it's
> pitched!
> 
> Mark
> 
> -------- Original Message --------
> Subject: 	Proposal of new UI element for windows in Ubuntu: Esfera
> Date: 	Fri, 26 Mar 2010 00:42:45 +0100
> From: 	Pablo Quirós <mr.polmac@xxxxxxxxx>
> To: 	mark@xxxxxxxxxx
> 
> 
> 
> Hello Mark, I've got a proposal on the buttons' subject. It is a new
> element to be placed in the free space on the top-right of the
> windows.
> 
> 
> At first I wasn't very convinced on the UI change, and we exchanged a
> couple of messages on the matter in the related bug report, but I've
> thought about it and I agree with you that this could bring
> interesting possibilities.
> 
> 
> I've designed a concept called Esfera, which I think could be a huge
> step forward to the user experience, while bringing innovation to the
> Ubuntu desktop. The idea is explained in the attached PDF; I hope you
> can take the time to read it or at least send it to the Canonical
> Design team. Sorry for the mockup; I'm a disaster using GIMP, but I
> hope it illustrates the idea.
> 
> 
> I'd be very pleased to answer any question you may have about it. I'd
> just request that if you implement the idea, I appear somewhere as the
> author of the concept, and I've be glad if you kept the name I've
> chosen.
> 
> 
> Of course, there are lots of ideas that go nowhere, so I'd perfectly
> understand if you consider it useless -- just thought it was good and
> wanted to share it with you.
> 
> 
> Regards,
> 
> 
> Pablo Quirós
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Mailing list: https://launchpad.net/~ayatana
> Post to : ayatana@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Unsubscribe : https://launchpad.net/~ayatana
> More help : https://help.launchpad.net/ListHelp
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Mailing list: https://launchpad.net/~ayatana Post to     :
> ayatana@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Unsubscribe :
> https://launchpad.net/~ayatana More help   :
> https://help.launchpad.net/ListHelp
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Mailing list: https://launchpad.net/~ayatana
> Post to : ayatana@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Unsubscribe : https://launchpad.net/~ayatana
> More help : https://help.launchpad.net/ListHelp
> 
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Mailing list: https://launchpad.net/~ayatana
> Post to     : ayatana@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Unsubscribe : https://launchpad.net/~ayatana
> More help   : https://help.launchpad.net/ListHelp