3D Sphere Interface for XP

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Posted by CmdrTaco on Tuesday February 1, 2005 @02:06AM from the not-often-you-envy-windows dept.

Brian Brian writes "I found this super cool 3D, inside a sphere, desktop interface. The videos really demonstrate it. I would love this built into OS X but it is just for Windows right now. And if nothing else, the paradigm is the coolest way to handle multiple screens." Here are a collection of screenshots & videos. I'm skeptical that it wouldn't be very practical, but it sure looks fun.

13 of 388 comments (clear)

Oh No! by sandstorming · 2005-02-01 02:12 · Score: 5, Funny

Clippy the office paper clip... NOW IN 3D!

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http://www.sandstorming.com
1. Re:Oh No! by wrong_fuel · 2005-02-01 03:44 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  If clippy were in 3-D, I could finally get around behind him to kick his A**.
So now XP can ... by Chris+Daniel · 2005-02-01 02:12 · Score: 3, Funny

... suck spheres.

*cough*

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Don't blame me -- I voted for Roslin.
Right by Anonymous Coward · 2005-02-01 02:16 · Score: 3, Funny

As slashbots we can only like fancy GUIs if they are for Macs.
Re:Mirror by ack154 · 2005-02-01 02:22 · Score: 2, Funny

if the bandwidth gets out of hand

Hi... Welcome to Slashdot. It already has gotten out of hand.
Re:I've tried this by Jugalator · 2005-02-01 02:29 · Score: 2, Funny

They should make a total conversion for e.g. Doom 3 that generates a level representing your hard drive and the larger executable apps there is, the nastier monsters they are. Beware entering Borg Space (the Windows folder)! :-o

Antivirus integration with such a game would let it represent trojans as... hmm... mimics? :-)

That's interaction I'd like to see. Blow up Internet Explorer once and for all with a BFG.

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Beware: In C++, your friends can see your privates!
Smells like.... by Barny · 2005-02-01 02:32 · Score: 5, Funny

Hehe, windowsXP with an interface that chugs it down, slows down the user, and STILL has no decent file system?

Sounds like someone beat MS to longhorn ;)

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/me sighs
Re:What does this really do for me? by heffrey · 2005-02-01 02:36 · Score: 1, Funny

Good point. But I wonder whether the idea might work on a really fast windowing system like X?
Re:What does this really do for me? by Anonymous Coward · 2005-02-01 02:41 · Score: 1, Funny

We'd have to wait for a really fast windowing system that's like X, first.
Re:3D in a 2D world by mr_spatula · 2005-02-01 03:09 · Score: 3, Funny

It's all Jurassic Park's fault.

"It's a UNIX system!" (followed by what was apparently some sort of VRML-based power management tool)
/.ed already by Walkiry · 2005-02-01 03:27 · Score: 2, Funny

Here's a paper copy of the device:

O

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---- Take the Space Quiz!
The research shows... by eno2001 · 2005-02-01 04:07 · Score: 4, Funny

...that what drives innovation is new input and output devices. There is a limited set of software that can be made to add or enhance functionality of the existing input and outbput devices on a computer. For example, a plain old QWERTY keyboard can only do so much regardless of whether it connects with an AT, PS/2 or USB interface. You might be able to write software that will use the scroll lock LED as a network link/traffic indicator, but that's about it. I've also heard that there were some projects that utilized the numeric section of the KB in a chording mode so you could ostensible type with one hand and possibly get a little faster at it. But as you can see, a keyboard is a keyboard is a keyboard. The same goes for a mouse. There is only so much you can do with a mouse before you hit limitations no matter how unique your GUI is (Mac, Windows, *nix, it doesn't matter).

So the only answer to continue to drive innovation is new input and output devices. This is where Microsoft has got it right. They see the need for this and are constantly developing newer and more unique interfaces. They have their biometric login device that allows you to log in just by touching something. And now they have this new 3D sphere interface. What they need is a corresponding physical input device to take the most advantage of this new UI. Since they are so keen on the tactile approach, they should probably make an input device that is more convenient to what most of the users of their products are accustomed to interacting with.

I would suggest that they build a unit that can be placed on the lap for convenient reach. It should have a firm cylindrical projection that is easy to grab (probably about 6.5 inches in length and about 2 inches thick to fit the majority of the users hands) and two spheres placed on either side of the control rod. The placement of the two spheres on either side should accomodate left or right handed users who with to interact with the 3D Sphere UI. Just to make the make the spheres more tactile, they should use a surface that is somewhat riled. Possibly the entir e device could even be heated to approximately 98.6F so that touching it would be a little more intuitive.

Following up on their force feedback technology from the mid 90s, they could add the same kind of technology to this input device. A little jerking to and fro to represent more 3D features in this new UI might be helpful for most users. There could also be an automatic sensor in the control rod that can detect when a user's skin is getting a little dry and a plume of self contained moisturizing cream could be oozed out of the tip of the control rod and directed down the sides to the users hand(s) for instant skin relief.

Just a simple premise to prove that innovation in UIs is purely driven by the input and output hardware. :)

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-"...bad old ideas look confusingly fresh when they are packaged as technology" - Jaron Lanier (Digital Maoism on Edge.o
Re:I've tried this by Stevyn · 2005-02-01 04:14 · Score: 2, Funny

What the hell is this? It turns everything into Chinese. No thank you!