Almost all humans have great spatial capabilities. This does not mean they can find their car in a parking lot. But, sitting in their chair at home in front of their TV, they can instantly point to the fridge, the back door, and the direction of their neighbor's barking dog.
I am not suggesting a 3D visual interface for the OS. Nor for controlling or manipulating data. I am suggesting a series of 3D visual display options for presenting information. And 2D options. And not just one, but multiple conceptual views. I am not talking fully-immersive 3d here, but the use of realtime 3d modeling to enhance graphical display. The idea is to help build a conceptual model (or cognitive map) for the user so they understand the "big picture" or their system, and can use those displays to either aggregate information or zoom in on the information they want. Users are pretty familiar with their immediate surroundings. They are not (for the most part) familiar with the inner workings of their computer. That is why a "photo album" makes more sense than /website/image/*.jpg. And why a "playlist" of songs is less understandable that a radio station. It is easy to get too cute, but the right "real world" metaphor can really help users. And the ability to use 3d space makes "real world" more real. Jerry Johnson Web Developer Dolan Media Company >>> [EMAIL PROTECTED] 01/05/05 12:12PM >>> While I don't dispute that some humans have great spatial capabilities, not all do. Most people I know don't care for FPS type video games because they become lost. And it's not just in virtual environments that people get lost. I have a friend who can walk out of a store at the mall and not know which way we came from previously. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| This list and all House of Fusion resources hosted by CFHosting.com. The place for dependable ColdFusion Hosting. http://www.houseoffusion.com/banners/view.cfm?bannerid=11 Message: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=i:5:141623 Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/threads.cfm/5 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=s:5 Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=11502.10531.5 Donations & Support: http://www.houseoffusion.com/tiny.cfm/54
