I had crazy idea of window manager user interaction. Actually, WMs isn't very important/weighty to user. Graphical environments tries to complete communication/navigation matters.
I think, that WMs should take first role with user interaction, not last. For example default behaviour for single click action on background window/desktop should be displaying foreground popup-menu with options, such as: - Move to front - Click - Move to front and click - Other windows... (all windows - such like task bar) - Move there an active window(top/left edge) - Move there an active window(select edge/cut point) - Move to background(above desktop, but below other window) - Move to front for 5 seconds and brink back - Minimise active window - Close active window(optionally - all application should have this option in menu) - Close this window(optionally - all application should have this option in menu) - Show task bar Interaction with top-level window would looks like now. By clicking desktop, user can select "Move to front". This option in this case would behaves like "show desktop". Additionally, we should add extents of this menu for corners/edges of screen, such like: - Maximise active window - Cascade all windows - Fill left side of screen by window etc... On desktop: - Minimise active window - Show in... (cascade, etc.) - All windows - Randomise window stack (very funny option) - Show less used windows (inverse of show most used windows) - Show most used windows (both options have connection only to current session) In my opinion, it would been more intuitive/attractive. Many users get confused, when they have too more windows on the desktop. Virtual desktop are great, but users, who previous uses only MS Windows systems don't understood this. Task bar are not great. All Desktop Environment elements(without desktop) are space gainfully. _______________________________________________ Usability mailing list [email protected] http://mail.gnome.org/mailman/listinfo/usability
