Deck (UI idea)

[Qwertyfog]

http://img144.imageshack.us/img144/4707/deck2.gif

This is a mockup of little UI idea. In Ubuntu brainstorm http://brainstorm.ubuntu.com/idea/19424/.

This, the transparent thing, is deck (dock+desk=deck). It's a way to navigate windows.

First, you need to hover bar, then deck pop-ups (like Windows autohide bar). While hovering program, the desktop "minimap" and howered window model are light-up. Also, while hovering, for example, minimap of desktop 3 — only its programs are showed in deck.

The point is - this deck allows to store huge amount of items, and navigate them. If there is'not enougth space, deck may rise to the top of monitor. On 800x600 it maximally gives space for over 100 items - witch is definatly enough :-).

It also may open on hotkey. Or, witch would be great, on mouse extra button (for example I have a4tech x750bf).

That's pretty much it. Ask qestions, if it's not completly clear.

http://brainstorm.ubuntu.com/idea/19424/image/1/ (http://brainstorm.ubuntu.com/idea/19424/)
________________________________________

Updated post with new - animated mockup, based on human theme. Here are the old screens (full mock-up):
http://img216.imageshack.us/img216/3427/11369671692d5a502177ba8.th.jpg (http://img216.imageshack.us/my.php?image=11369671692d5a502177ba8.jpg) http://img216.imageshack.us/img216/1103/ca6ffdfaad0a4b496660032.th.jpg (http://img216.imageshack.us/my.php?image=ca6ffdfaad0a4b496660032.jpg) http://img216.imageshack.us/img216/5536/bade210cb907515cf166185.th.jpg (http://img216.imageshack.us/my.php?image=bade210cb907515cf166185.jpg)

__________________________________________________ _______________
I am new here, so if I posted in wrong %something% don't be very angry :-)

[UbuntuNerd]

interesting idea :)

[xrecar]

WOW! This should make it to 9.10.

Did you think of something like a keyboard shortcut for the deck? or perhaps mouse gestures? This said, since to me (this is something personal) autohide is annoying at times, which is why I only use one bar instead of two.

But I really love the idea of having this deck pop-up and show you quick links to software you use frequently.. I really love it! and the way it looks. I also think this would make ubuntu more mainstream..

Great Concept!!!

[Silver_fox_]

Hi,

Thats a pretty neat idea. I hope it gets developed. I would certainly use it :)

-Ash R

[Marlonsm]

I liked the idea too.

I just think that icons on the deck could be bigger, as it has lots of space avaiable. And as more icons are added to the deck, they would get smaller, so everything would fit well and there would be no wasted space.

[Sand & Mercury]

Certainly purty and unique idea.

My problem with it would be that like with an auto-hidden panel you have to move the mouse to two different places just to switch tasks. When you're working and have to do that every few seconds, it'd get old fast.

What I think it could be better used for is as a launcher menu, a la Slab or Kickoff.

[Qwertyfog]

WOW! This should make it to 9.10.
Did you think of something like a keyboard shortcut for the deck? or perhaps mouse gestures?


It's in the post.



My problem with it would be that like with an auto-hidden panel you have to move the mouse to two different places just to switch tasks. When you're working and have to do that every few seconds, it'd get old fast.


Well - anyway you do a move to the bar, and then up. If it's not many apps, the deck will rise about 70 px - not much.
I'll correct mockups soon, to show it more properly.



What I think it could be better used for is as a launcher menu, a la Slab or Kickoff.

There's no "better" - id doesn't hurt to have both.

[meeples]

i really like it :)

[Qwertyfog]

Updated post - added new animated mockup.

BTW - thanx for good feedback.

[Merk42]

Sorry for sounding so critical...

How is this any different than a really tall auto-hide window list?
So now the space between show desktop and desktop switcher is completely wasted?

[Qwertyfog]

Sorry for sounding so critical...

How is this any different than a really tall auto-hide window list?
So now the space between show desktop and desktop switcher is completely wasted?

1 Pretty much. But it is as tall, as many windows you have.

2 Well, you can add some different stuff to the bar.

[xrecar]

EXCELLENT UPDATE. You should also propose the keyboard shortcut as an option, since many of us don't really like autohide

[jadhav333]

its a good idea.. but its a rip off from a windows 7 feature.. and not very visually aesthetic too.. lets learn something from Mac.. if you do it.. do it with style and panache..

[Merk42]

its a good idea.. but its a rip off from a windows 7 feature..

What feature of Windows 7 is it ripping off from?

[Argama]

The pictures (not the gif) I think are more fit for touch navigation. The animated gif you can allready make in current gui state with just some clicking and draging.

[Qwertyfog]

its a good idea.. but its a rip off from a windows 7 feature.. and not very visually aesthetic too.. lets learn something from Mac.. if you do it.. do it with style and panache..

I didn't see W7 yet, so I can't tell if you are right. But still, do you propose not to learn from win7 and make a ripoff of osX? ;-)

Yes, OsX navigation is nice, but still not perfect - and if we try to copy just a part of it, it won't work.

Deck is actually something like an autohide sidebar, that extends as many items in it you have, plus - it does not take everything else with him (clocks, language indicators, ect.). It definatly has roots in windows, witch doesn't make it bad.

The pictures (not the gif) I think are more fit for touch navigation. The animated gif you can allready make in current gui state with just some clicking and draging.

Yeah? How?

I did it as close to current state as possible, with understanding, that it's not so easy to make something on osX dock level, etc. This way, if it's easy - it's more realistic that it will come out of mockup level.

And yes, i'ts pretty good for touch navigation too.

[Saint Angeles]

usually when people propose ideas like this... its some cheesy idea that most people blast right off the bat.

but i'm actually quite intrigued by this idea. if possible, we don't have to wait for ubuntu devs to create this if we can start programming it ourselves. i'm no programmer myself (though i've been starting to learn python and c++) but i'm sure we could maybe find somebody who is looking for a new project!

[Argama]

Bar color = transparent + Autohide + window preview tagged on in settings.

[Qwertyfog]

Bar color = transparent + Autohide + window preview tagged on in settings.

Yes. But, point is in removing limits from amount of stored items. Your way it's still one row. About 10 items in normal size on big screen. Not much.

And the fact that it's almost possible to make thru GUI states that it's not hard to implement whole concept.

usually when people propose ideas like this... its some cheesy idea that most people blast right off the bat.

but i'm actually quite intrigued by this idea. if possible, we don't have to wait for ubuntu devs to create this if we can start programming it ourselves. i'm no programmer myself (though i've been starting to learn python and c++) but i'm sure we could maybe find somebody who is looking for a new project!

I felt like it, but I don't have almost any skill in coding either. If you can help find anybody (by promotin this thread, for example), it may work out.

____________________________________________
P.S. Today I'll add another (yes, one more) little mockup to show what I mean by "extandability" of deck.