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Canonical Designer Demos Ubuntu Context-Aware UI

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the i-sense-something-interesting dept.

Blacklaw writes "Canonical's Christian Giordano has posted details of what he believes could be the future of user interface design in Ubuntu — a system that detects physical context. Designed to be paired with a webcam or other sensor system, the concept is that the computer is able to detect where a user is in proximity to the display along with an idea of roughly what he or she might be doing. Using this information, the operating system — in this case, Ubuntu Linux — can automatically make changes to the screen layout. For example, when the system detects that the user has leaned back in his or her chair, the system automatically makes the currently playing video full-screen. Lean forward again, and the video returns to its previous windowed mode."

8 of 237 comments (clear)

  1. Porn by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    So if the computer sees me with a box of tissues and some lube it will start up youporn?

    1. Re:Porn by ray-auch · · Score: 4, Funny

      More importantly, will it minimise the porn window when the wife enters the room behind you ?

    2. Re:Porn by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      >More importantly, will it minimise the porn window when the wife enters the room behind you ?

      Wife/SO: "That's it, I'm leaving. Masturbating to porn I could handle, but to Slashdot?!?"

  2. I don't want a jealous computer... by Drakkenmensch · · Score: 4, Funny

    ... that yells "Pay attention!" every time it detects my eyes focusing on my television rather than its monitor!

  3. Interesting... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    So if I dangle my Special Purpose in front of my webcam, will it boot me into Damn Small Linux?

    1. Re:Interesting... by Hinhule · · Score: 4, Funny

      I think it'll launch chatroulette.

  4. Re:Consitancy by natehoy · · Score: 4, Funny

    They'll announce it a few years from now, codename "Terrifying Tantalus"

    --
    "This post contains words, known to the State of California to cause thought. Wash brain thoroughly after reading."
  5. Re:Hmm by Compaqt · · Score: 4, Funny

    First they messed up sound with PulseAudio, but I did not say anything because I killall'd it in cron.

    Then they came for my window control menus, but I did not say anything because I gconf'd it.

    Now they have come for my gnome-terminal replacing it with HAL, and there's no one left to speak for me.

    --
    I'm not a lawyer, but I play one on the Internet. Blog