decades ago, when computing was becoming more mainstream and personal (Macintosh, PC revolution, firsts GUIs, ...), the desktop metaphor was invented. This arguably helped make friendlier a computer to new people. But now, I think it's time to move on.
I'm reading the "dock chapter" of the Mac OS X 10.5 ars technica review<http://arstechnica.com/reviews/os/mac-os-x-10-5.ars/13>...and honestly, the insistence of the folder metaphor used for new functionality, is a little comical. Why not use icons everywhere (excluding icons that only point to "files")? ...it should keep a subtle but legible distinction between: 1) an object (application, document, ...) 2) a list of objects (formerly "folder") Seriously, do people really think now that a folder contains an application? The folder metaphor is too contextual, it's document-centric. Maybe it can be useful on a Document User Interface; where there's "only" documents... but still, computers are essentially information-centric machines. Even the document metaphor is specific, not general. Interfaces paradigms should be general, like an information-centric one; no discrimination* between graphics or text, applications (even algorithms are information) or files. *meaning no emphasis of one type over the other, ie: (traditional) Unix is text-centric. I would like that the graphical differentiation for lists of objects is a box with rounded corners and a custom background (one theme can even be the "recycled paper" texture used in Leopard). But it shouldn't have the look of a folder, and it should focus on displaying just the first element on the list (an icon, or preview). And it should be 2D, the Leopard dock is insisting on an (almost) 3D look; which is not the physical (monitor) or interaction (mouse) reality... which for now is 2D. -- http://www.zensui.org ________________________________________________________________ *Come to IxDA Interaction08 | Savannah* February 8-10, 2008 in Savannah, GA, USA Register today: http://interaction08.ixda.org/ ________________________________________________________________ Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ....... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe ................ http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines ............ http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .................. http://www.ixda.org/help
