“segusoLand is a program for GNU/linux that enables users to specify actions in a very uniform and intuitive way. Some people would call segusoLand a “desktop environment”, some a “file manager”, some a “start menu”… it is difficult to classify it because it is quite innovative. The big innovation of segusoLand is called “intelligent option narrowing”. You won’t find it anywhere else” says its author Maurizio Colucci. Check the application here and some screenshots here. Make sure you read the other pages too as they provide a lot of information as to what segusoLand really is and what it does.
Introduction to segusoLand
About The Author
Eugenia Loli
Ex-programmer, ex-editor in chief at OSNews.com, now a visual artist/filmmaker.
Follow me on Twitter @EugeniaLoli
Really nice. Glad to see some innovation here (though innovation is the last thing I care of… 🙂
Most people don’t need 25 programs to do the same thing, one is usually enough.
Already, there are some preliminary task based UI elements in XP.
From the screen shots of segusoLand, the options are overwhelming – too much for non-geek users.
The rules of “Intelligent Info. narrowing” is chosen by geeks – at leat initially, without users’ tweaks. Geeks rarely do a good job to understand most users’ need.
Very smart. But if it is better to chose the device or the verb (command, or action wouldn’t be better?), why not put them first, at the left?
I believe this would be better yet with some sort of database filesystem (VMS, BFS, etc).
What I wanted to say is why not put the files in the last (right) column: devices, Verbs, Programs, Files?
choose verb hibernate …
All programs and all files disappeared – it would feel pretty scary to some people, they might go back to make sure files/programs are not actually disappearing, but are indeed being “narrowed”.
I thought the idea of free software was that everyone can enjoy the sharing of ideas.
It is available in Mandrake contribs, in cooker (development version, and the author proposed segusoland in the mailing list), and thus will be present in Mandrake 10.
Too late to patent. All ready in the public domain. should have filed a contingency patent before publishing this. That would have given him a year before the actual patent could be filed.
from the right-click | “Open With…” in Windows. This has been around for years and only displays programs that can view the file clicked on???
Microsofts implementation is much more clean and integrated into the Desktop Enviroment.
Please read the website of the program. They explain very well the difference.
Go to the FAQ Section at the question :
(http://segusoland.sourceforge.net/faq.html)
“Why don’t you add a pop-up menu, instead of the verb panel? Maybe activated by right-clicking?”
You will find the answer.
This is not too dissimilar to MS task based UI, and I think it is way too complicated for general use (looks like a dialog window from hell). I do applaud the developer for exploring other ideas though.
The author makes some incorrect assumptions in the text. He suggests that regular users look for a file from a large list full of mixed file types, and subsequently choose the application they want to open it with. On the contrary I find users open the *application* first, and then click “open” which gives a nice open file dialog that *filters* the files to just those that can be dealt with.
On a different note – why the “patent it now” cries. I thought as free software developers we choose not to restrict others freedoms by applying for Patents (and if you do not plan on restricting other’s freedoms, then why would you need a patent anyhow?). The very fact that people have seen the code eyc. mean it is now not able to be patented (by the author or by anyone else). And do you really think MS couldnt have a couple of Patents that would apply to this?! They been reasearching task based user interfaces for years. Thankfully they dont throw their Patents around.
“from the right-click | “Open With…” in Windows. This has been around for years and only displays programs that can view the file clicked on???”
Windows does display a list of applications but it does not narrow down the applications that can process a file by association.
The idea seems fresh and the concept is a lot more powerful then Windows task-based UI. However, it might be also interesting to see quicksearch input boxes. Or, if Maurizio doesn’t want to clutter it, he could use ‘/’ ;-P.
search boxes are already there 😉
on the very helpful screenshots/tutorial page, he says:
Now you only see the pictures in your computer, therefore it is much easier to find the right one to print. Directories are hardly needed. Of course, if you want to organize your files you can still do it (see below).
I was wondering where folders come in. That seems like bunk to me, especially as people start accumulating more and more files. Using his chosen example, images, I can’t imagine having no organization via folders or something analogous. Picking the “view this picture” verb would list *every* jpg, gif, and other image on your computer. For those of us with a digicam, webdevelopers, etc etc, that list could be huge and very possibly have repeating entries. I don’t want to have to look through a gigantic list of every image on my machine in alphabetical order to find the right picture.
This would be a problem with even a lot of novice computer users, folks with a digital camera who love to take photos, but don’t know how to do much other than use their camera, web, email. Same dillema emerges.
The only way with the current system that could be dealt with is by naming your photos, mp3s, and other media with names like “Minnesota Vacation-Day1-Me and Mandie.jpg”, which is a pretty dirty work around to the app’s lack of folder management. I think it not having that would prevent adoption by all but the most enthusiastic experienced (who like the idea and are willing to work around) and the most incredibly novice users.
But thinking like this is good. We need more of this, even if it isn’t perfect. It will lead to more good and better ideas!
WTF is it with OSS developers? Why do they have to give their software some idiotic name that has absolutely NOTHING to do with the actual software? This is bad, bad, bad, BAD! >:(
This is the cream of geeks, and why there is the need to have MBAs 😎
“from the right-click | “Open With…” in Windows. This has been around for years and only displays programs that can view the file clicked on???”
Windows does display a list of applications but it does not narrow down the applications that can process a file by association.
You probably haven’t use latest versions of Windows, 😎
The “Open With …” menu in XP will only display relevant programs for a particular file type, on top of a choose program entry.
Hi,
just compiled the thing from CVS 🙂
Very nice! I have some suggestions though:
1) Search boxes should be on by default OR you should attach the text ‘Search’ to the appropriate button, otherwise it’s hard to find.
2) Do we really need actions like ‘Edit plain text file’, ‘Edit DOC file’ etc instead of ‘Edit file’? Is it logical to specify file type in actions? Verb menu should consist mostly of verbs, after all 🙂 To me it seems that the big scary actions menu kinda defeats the whole purpose. I think that it would be more logical and convenient to the user to choose the right file in files column, even if it’s long, than in actions (possibly with the help of search boxes). Or, alternatively, there may be a need for another concept (and column) – file type. I would prefer the latter solution.
3) The app must have reasonable defaults to reduce redundant mouse traveling and clicking. For instance, if I have only one CD writer, why do I have to select it by clicking on it? I know, speed is not your goal, but this delay is really unnecessary. Also, in Times, ‘Now’ should be the default (because it’s what will be used in 99% of cases).
4) And lastly, purely inplementational remark: search boxes’ responsiveness is rather poor, don’t know why.
Anyway, the concept is very interesting. This is kind of “Universal Wizard” (as opposed).
Cheers,
Artem Vakhitov
subj 🙂
Why are many of the posters so hostile to the developer? I don’t see any reason for this.
As for the name, the app is GPL, so you can easily rename it however you like — for instance, “Universal Wizard”, as I just have called it…
Since the program is doing the “narrowing” process.
A Universal Wizard could hardly do everything at optimal level of performance – It is against the *nix philosophy
IMHO, that’s why WinXP based its “task based UI” decision on folder types, instead of open files one by one in a particular folder before showing a proper UI
Longhorn will use Meta data on WinFS to avoid the peeking file process.
This is fine tool, innovative and well suited to the newbies. Like you said Artem, it would be better to have only real verbs like “View file”, “Print File” and “Edit File”, and even a way to get rid of the app menu and select a default application for each action; then it will be REALLY great for the end-user-not-computer-literate.
The name Universal Wizard is fantastic! Maybe i’ll rename it. But the current one is so funny… 😛
> 1) Search boxes should be on by default OR you should
> attach the text ‘Search’ to the appropriate button,
> otherwise it’s hard to find.
I will do this.
> 2) Do we really need actions like ‘Edit plain text file’,
>’Edit DOC file’ etc instead of ‘Edit file’?
yes, because EditDocfile hides all non doc files. EditFile would only narrow non editable files.
> Is it logical to specify file type in actions? Verb menu
> should consist mostly of verbs, after all 🙂 To me it
> seems that the big scary actions menu kinda defeats the
> whole purpose.
No problem, with the change view button you can choose to see only a subset of the verbs. I am also thinking to make the verb panel hierarchical WHEN NO OBJECT IS SELECTED.
> I think that it would be more logical and convenient to
> the user to choose the right file in files column, even if
> it’s long, than in actions (possibly with the help of
> search boxes). Or, alternatively, there may be a need for
> another concept (and column) – file type. I would prefer
> the latter solution.
I had thought of it, but discarded the idea because the panels are too many.
The time panel will become dropdown Howver, since it is not a narrowing panel.
> 3) The app must have reasonable defaults to reduce
> redundant mouse traveling and clicking. For instance, if I
> have only one CD writer, why do I have to select it by
> clicking on it?
I will write an AI for autoselecting defaults based on your previous choices.
> I know, speed is not your goal, but this delay is really
> unnecessary. Also, in Times, ‘Now’ should be the default
> (because it’s what will be used in 99% of cases).
You only need to select NOW once, and leave it selected.
> 4) And lastly, purely inplementational remark: search
> boxes’ responsiveness is rather poor, don’t know why.
Will be improved.
Thanks for your constructive feedback.
Maurizio
“Since the program is doing the “narrowing” process. ”
No, I meant the GTK widget itself, not the search. The search was actually very quick.
“A Universal Wizard could hardly do everything at optimal level of performance”
Well, speed is not the goal here. Read the FAQ 😉
> Since the program is doing the “narrowing” process.
no, it’s because for each letter you digit, GTK is resizing the panels and all items contained in them 🙂
will be fixed.
Why are many of the posters so hostile to the developer? I don’t see any reason for this.
As for the name, the app is GPL, so you can easily rename it however you like — for instance, “Universal Wizard”, as I just have called it…
Because a bad name for a good idea looks rather idiotic.
IHMO, that’s why they hate windows and stick with linux, that way, they could act like a moron at will.
noatun – isn’t this sort of names like the result of mad cow disease ?
When Unix was invented 30 years ago, 2KB of memory would costs thousands of dollars, so the like of ls, top, ps do make sense.
“No problem, with the change view button you can choose to see only a subset of the verbs. I am also thinking to make the verb panel hierarchical WHEN NO OBJECT IS SELECTED”
Look, “Change view” is rather abstract and complicated to a newbie (and a little bit obscure; file type is important and hence should be BIG :-)). It would be easier if the user could see the list of file types.
Secondly, AFAIK it’s a basic HIG principle to avoid similarly worded menu items like, for instance, “Configure Foo”, “Configure Bar”, and “Configure Baz”. The user literally gets lost looking at this, and you have to apply significant mind effort to select the appropriate action. This would not be the case with the modified design (5 boxes or 6 boxes — it doesn’t make a difference, after all, and you anyway are going to
hide Times list, so you’ll get the same 5 boxes again…)
You convinced me 🙂 I will do it in a few days.
Right.
But the author’s point in his description was that first you would have to go though other tasks to find the file and get to that menu. It’s the same idea, but this program develops it further.
I need a gtk expert to help me writing a new ListBox widget.
C’m on… I can’t find anyone…
(Sorry if I exploit this site :-P)
> The author makes some incorrect assumptions in the text. He
> suggests that regular users look for a file from a large
> list full of mixed file types, and subsequently choose the
> application they want to open it with. On the contrary I
> find users open the *application* first, and then click
> “open” which gives a nice open file dialog that *filters*
> the files to just those that can be dealt with.
I don’t know what OS you use, but under Windows it is customary to locate the file first, from explorer, and then the program/action.
And newbies put almost anything in My Documents, so my argument stands.
Bravo! It may not be for everyone (hey it may not even be for me), but I applaud the creative spirit behind this contribution in software and in concept. It stirs the imagination, and for that I am greatful.
This is fantastic. Keep up the great work!
It seems really great altought I haven’t tested it yet.
For now I have juste one thing to cpmplain, the Web site. I don’t like the dark background and I think I’m not the only one.
I know it’s a detail, but I wanted to express it.
I thought about this just after publishing my first comment. Seguso, you should publish your software on Freshmeat.net, it’s very popular. It’s a chance I heard of this software because I normally only check Freshmeat.
I don’t know what OS you use, but under Windows it is customary to locate the file first, from explorer, and then the program/action.
Indeed, some of the lecturers and my uni open a file and if it’s the wrong one, the close it and open the same program by double clicking on a different file. I would say I presume these people haven’t been using computers for long enough that they knew what slow meant, but no: Some of them are comp. sci. lecturers.
Note: I’ve been using linux for a solid 2 years as purley a desktop enviornment, and consider myself an “advanced end-user”
The potential for something like this is amazing, especially if it can be sleekly intergrated into a (or multiple?) desktop enviornments out there. Something like this would be a hell of a lot more useful than Red Hat’s (or is it gnome’s?) “Start Here” desktop icon; you’ll actually be able to _start_ THERE!
Yet, Some advice:
— you’ve still got to think a bit further outside of the geek box, and a lot more in the “end-user” box, because it looks like this program belongs in the hands of an end-user more than anyone else. For example, no average end-user burns from CUE or BIN or ISO files… give me a break. I think there should be a general “Burn CD” option, and depending on what files you select, the app would say something a-la Clippy: “It appears you are trying to make a music CD. Do you want this to be an MP3 CD or an Audio CD?” Something like that. An even better enhancement would be for, after you select “Audio CD” for your answer, it executes the necessary actions to decompress these files and burn them to a CD… no external app necessary! I like the idea of an app like this as being more or less the desktop hub, where things can happen independently of external apps if possible.
— possibly put program descriptions in an italiczed grey text underneath the name of each app? For example, under Eye of Gnome, “The GNOME image viewer”. Remember, gotta help out the n00bs with those wackly linux app names
— The “Time” thing works, for some reason… can’t quite explain it. But it’s true that “Now” is going to be more than most frequently used
— Consider some sort of better intergration of your “change view” feature into the main UI. folders are necessary. sure everyone tosses their docs, pix, and the kitchen sink into my documents, but eventually, people do wind up using folders _within_ my documents… duh, what am i thinking: “My Pictures” “My Videos” “My Music”. So you need to have at least an upfront categorical arrangement of files.
Like I said… I’m still an end-user, though I can bust many a command line groove should I need to. I hope you put a bit of serious thought into my suggestions.
–eric
Not only you do 😉 Most GTK+2 filemanagers suffer from slow file list redraw… GTK+ ListBox rewrite is overdue…
What of tabs and embedding programs (a la Konquerer)? seguso could (and in my opinion, should) be a one-stop shop rather than something you open/switch to every time you want to start working on a new task.
Oh, and if there were some way to create categories from metadata (hint, hint) even I might find myself using the product.
Looks relatively simple and effective. But that might just be because I’m a geek. I feel the same way about Slackware
(after using it since ’94 that is)
I have to say that I personally like having loads of programs available to do the same thing. Anything that helps organize them is welcome.
How is having lots of program for the same task confusing if they all work relatively well? I don’t generally like people deciding which apps are the best for me.
I am glad someone is trying to do something relatively mainstream that isn’t just a start menu/right-click popup start menu type thing.
> I think there should be a general “Burn CD” option, and
> depending on what files you select, the app would say
> something a-la Clippy: “It appears you are trying to make a
> music CD.
i see the problem, but this doesn’t work with narrowing. I must be able to select “Burn audio cd” because this hides all non-audio files… I will find another solution.
> possibly put program descriptions in an italiczed grey
> text underneath the name of each app? For example, under
> Eye of Gnome, “The GNOME image viewer”.
It seems useless, because as soon as you select Eye of Gnome, you see in the verb panel what it can do. “View picture”.
> So you need to have at least an upfront categorical
> arrangement of files.
My current intention is that WHEN NOTHING is selected the verbs, files and programs panels will show folders instead of actual items. Then as soon as you select something, all panels become flat.
This program seems like a very good idea, are you planning for “skins” like those winamp uses, makes it look soo much better. How about some nicer icons for the verbs, transperancy effects etc. Oh and perhaps some nice click sounds etc. It looks a bit too much “power user” atm i think.
Just wanted to add that I think there are soo much customizability and effects possibilities with this software, for instance; how about a 3D slot machine type of interface were the icons “roll” on the screen with a 3d effect? Yes I know that would be a lot of work but I think theres soo many cool possibilities here, this thing makes my imagination run amok! (love it!)
> i see the problem, but this doesn’t work with narrowing. I
> must be able to select “Burn audio cd” because this hides
> all non-audio files… I will find another solution.
I’m glad you see my point, and I guess you’re right about the narrowing focus that is this app (notice how I can’t even bring my self to REMEMBER the name, because then I’d have to also remember how to spell it) 😉
I wasn’t really litteral about the clippy-esque approach, but that was just me thinking of the end-user that I am.
> It seems useless, because as soon as you select Eye of
> Gnome, you see in the verb panel what it can do. “View
> picture”.
Maybe you’re right, but I was thinking that it’d be sort of a reenforcement of the verb panel. Possibly in excess, tho.
> My current intention is that WHEN NOTHING is selected the
> verbs, files and programs panels will show folders instead
> of actual items. Then as soon as you select something, all
> panels become flat.
I dont know that if by “current intention” you mean as the app is now…? I’ve got to admit i’ve yet do d/l and compile it… soon though!
That’s a very interesting concept but, IMHO, the implementation needs a little work, there’s alot of visual polution in the ui, i think that the files panel is completely wrong, as someone said before, what about if i have 500 images, how will i find the right one? The answer is pretty simple and that’s an hierarquical filesystem and browser to look at them. So this is my first sugestion, change the middle panel by nautilus. The pollution of verbs should also be hierrarquically formated, the devices are ok, but the time… not the way it is now…
I know that the point is to save work, but those screenshot only show utter chaos, make things simple is hard, but that’s the way they should be. Think of kde’s control center (<=3.1.*) it’s great, has alot of function, but does it work? No. Totally confusing and anti-intuitive. So while this concept tries to help it can also make the user’s work worst. But don’t get me wrong, i am not flamming, yet i think that this is a great concept that just needs work, and it is still brewing, so keep it up! Keep up the good work
I am impressed by this project enough that I was thinking that I would like to see a full window manager desktop envronment that uses this in place of a start menu. It could reside on it’s own desktop (because of its size) and the programs could open in the currently highlighted non-segusoLand workspace/desktop (highlighted in a new menu allowing on the fly creation of various desktops, each with their own resolution, wallpaper, etc.) Also multihead support would be cool with this. It wouldn’t require any extra clicks as long as person doesn’t mind the program opening in the initial workspace. I would also welcome any level of addtional network integration that could be added, and it would be nice if the various workspaces could function somehow where the multihead idea could be used in conjunction with separate mice and keyboards to produce two or three fully functional virtual linux machines all running from the same box at low cost (each with access to segusoLand but not necessarily to the other workspaces). It would be a relatively cheap option for small colleges, etc.
Also good for families with only one computer. Could be cheaper than thin clients IMHO (no need for a brawny server, less boxes needed for the actual workstations). Would need a distributed way to maintain configuration across the entire network. Essentially the idea is for the whole thing to function as a server in addition to workstations.
I know I went way too far off on that tangent, BTW.
And yes I know that is a lot to ask. I don’t expect it to be implemented. I just thought it would be cool if someone had ridiculous amounts of free time to code it.
Now that I’m back down to earth, yes, I agree that the file menu might need tweaking if it just displayed everything. But according to the segusoLand website you can create categories to sort files. He gives an example with MP3s. Seems hierarchichal enough for me. But again I’m a geek
Surely this will rock on the Linux Desktop! Indeed very innovative.
:^)
> i think that the files panel is completely wrong,
> as someone said before, what about if i have
> 500 images, how will i find the right one?
I must add this to the FAQs. 🙂
Say you have a directory called “trip to new zealand” with a lot of pictures in it : 1.png, 2.png, 3.png, 4.png, and so on.
Then with segusoLand you do this:
menu->options->directories
Select “watch a new directory”
from the fileselector, select the directory “trip to new zealand”.
segusoLand asks you if you want to add metadata to the files in that dir. You decide to add the metadata “newzealand”, “trip” , “12 gen 2003”.
And you are done.
And that would make the program look different from all other ones for the sake of being different? Bad usability decision. The best (although somewhat offensive) way of dealing with that is the way recommended on jwz.org:
Whenever a programmer thinks, “Hey, skins, what a cool idea”, their computer’s speakers should create some sort of cock-shaped soundwave and plunge it repeatedly through their skulls.
…how everything is going to work with only one layer of menus per “type”. For a new user, it’s going to be like the guess-the-verb problem that plagues interactive fiction.
Let’s suppose I’m non-techie “Derf”. I want to Compose an e-mail and Listen to my MP3s. That’s the way I think. I need to look though a huge list of “verbs” to find things that kind of match what I’m looking for: Send an e-mail and Play a music file. The HIG explain the reason why tree views are out of the picture, but it’s a lot easier to navigate a small selection of task groupings (Make CD, Create Document, Play Multimedia), then select a more specific task (Make Audio CD, Make Data CD, Make CD Extra) than to find a specific task in a huge list.
The same is true of programs. It’s easier to find Media Players and go to XMMS than find XMMS in a hundred+ element list of all installed programs, especially if you don’t know the exact name of the program in question.
It’s not necessary to use tree widgets to gain this kind of functionality. Clicking “Create Document” could just show a new “menu” below (in the space below “view image” in selected-viewpicture.png) with more specific verbs, such as “Create Text Document”, “Create Presentation”, etc. Likewise with file, program, and device selections. The concept of hierarchy isn’t evil.
I DO think that a good looking UI is very important, it gives the user a better experience using the program. I like to customize the looks of my desktop, firebird etc. It gives my computer a comfortable “at home” feeling.
OT: I believe that whoever is first in makeing a good, usable 3D DE will get a lot of attention, i know Sun, Apple and MS are experimenting with it and I do think that it should be looked into by the Linux community too, Im sure that within 5years all major OSs will have 3D GUIs. Just take a look at Looking glass, it looks amazing and very usable too!
My hat is off to the innovative creator of this program. It is great to see original thinking in the Free/Open Source world. Congratulations on a great idea!
I have thought for years that the present OS situation is roughly this: Doug Engelbart and Xerox Parc create original new ideas, Apple implements some of them after a few years, Microsoft copies the Apple implementation (poorly) after several more years, and finally Linux developers copy the Microsoft version a year or two later but make it more stable. This is not a flame – I am grateful just to have a free OS at all, and I have used Linux exclusively for the last two years at home, at work, and everywhere else (laptop). But for the most part, Linux, and the various user programs for it, have not been truly innovative – yet. This app – Segunderobble, sorry, Sundrederlund, err, Snarglepobble, oh, never mind, the Universal Task Wizard is one of the first really innovative interface ideas I have seen in a while (the now defunct Oeone Homebase Desktop was another).
From all the feedback it seems clear that Srepplopobolof may not yet be a fully polished diamond, but there is little doubt that it is at the least a diamond in the rough (personally I’d say it’s already a lot better than that, from reading the webpage and looking at the screenshots).
This is a GOOD idea, folks, make no mistake about it!
I only have two suggestions:
(1) First, more people need to hear about this; it is such a novel idea that I think with a little publicity the developer (Seguso) may well get offers of help from other developers, and that’s where the power of Free/Open Source development lies. This OSnews story will of course generate some publicity; but, Seguso, how about writing a short article on this and submitting it to some of the Linux magazines or websites? You can pull much of the text and many of the screenshots right off your website, so hopefully it won’t take too much of your time. Just off the top of my head, there are the US “Linux Magazine” and “Linux Journal”, the UK “Linux Format”, and the UK/European “Linux” magazine. Then there are the various Linux websites: desktoplinux.com, newsforge, ofb.biz, linux.com, etc, etc.
(2) Second, please, please, change the name of your program (spartacuspiffle) to something easier to remember and more clearly descriptive. And please DON’T stick a ‘K’ or a ‘G’ or a ‘Qt’ in front of it (QtSpriffligiblarg is even less readable than Spriffligiblarg). If you ask for suggestions here on OSnews, you’d probably get a lot of ideas. Here are a few suggestions from me:
1)SuperLauncher
2)UltimateTaskbar
3)Universa Task Selector
4)Universal Work Wizard
(I don’t like Universal Wizard because Sniggerproblifigibble does not, for instance, help you configure Apache or install Xfree; so it’s not a Universal Wizard, it’s a wizard to help you get work done on your computer. Hence, Universal Work Wizard.
5)UltraPanel (a better panel than KDE/Gnome..)
6) SuperLaunch (lets you launch any task…)
7) Desktop Interface
8) Smart Selector (Seguso Smart Selector?)
9) StartIt
10) EasyStart
11) KQtGtkXwinGnuLinSnegourkaLand (just kidding 🙂 )
My thanks to you for creating this app, and for choosing to share it with the world. My best wishes for its future; maybe this will be the program that makes Linux the *easiest* desktop OS for beginners to learn to use…wouldn’t that be great? 🙂
-Gnobuddy
P.S. I think my favourite name for this app is “smart selector”, because that closely describes what the program does. If you really want your name in there, how about “Seguso Smart Selector” ?
Like many, I’d like to congratulate you and give encouragement and support to you and your idea/design. It seems as though you are on to something very, very nice indeed.
Just don’t screw it up like so many before you. (:
Just a quick note. I’m not able to try it myself at the moment(nor for some days, unfortunately), but in going through your screenshots, I had a question which I can’t seem to find the answer to, concerning “All *s.”
Let’s take your .gif printing example. You select printer first and then go about your merry business. But how do you return to the “top?” It makes sense to me, at this moment, to be able to click “All Devices” and go back to the top of the devices chain, perhaps allowing some kind of toggle to allow you to keep whatever you were working with static while you zoomed out to the rest of the system. It is complicated, I suppose.
Also, to echo the cry for search boxes. The window just doesn’t look right without them, honestly. (:
I’m certain you’ve given much thought to the layout, but I wondered–why do you have the column order that you have now? It seems extremely logical to have, say, Devices on the left, then Programs, then Verbs, then Files, on the right.
What do you want to work with? CD Burner.
What program do you want to use? Xcdroast.
What do you want to do? Burn Music.
What files? (Hopefully with a search bar above/under) These files right here.
Just like reading.
> Let’s suppose I’m non-techie “Derf”. I want to Compose an
> e-mail and Listen to my MP3s.
Very well said.
> That’s the way I think.
> I need to look though a huge list of “verbs” to find
> things that kind of match what I’m looking for: Send an
> e-mail and Play a music file.
Yes, that takes time because the list is long, but matching the idea that is in your mind with the item is easy.
If instead of items we had categories, as you suggest, the match would be more difficult: it is easier to match “make a text file” with “Create a new text file” than with “Applications->Editing->Create a new file->Create a new text file”.
Don’t assume that just because the list is long, and the clicks required to scroll are many, the process of finding the right item is “more difficult”. The matching computation is easier.
Seeing categories instead of items is much less intuitive. Instead of verbs, the newbie would see “multimedia”, “networking”, and he wouldn’t understand the panel contains verbs at all.
I don’t think there is a perfect solution. I will add what you say, but so far I believe it will not be the default option.
> The same is true of programs. It’s easier to find Media
> Players and go to XMMS than find XMMS in a hundred+
> element list of all installed programs, especially if you
> don’t know the exact name of the program in question.
You say it’s easier because you still think in terms of speed of execution, or number of clicks required. But I don’t care about how fast you compose actions (see “problems-solved.html”). I care about how intuitively you compose actions you never composed before and had no idea it could be done. Categories introduce a level of complexity that make the program less immediate.
“Seguso Smart Selector” does rock, I must say!
If instead of items we had categories, as you suggest, the match would be more difficult: it is easier to match “make a text file” with “Create a new text file” than with “Applications->Editing->Create a new file->Create a new text file”.
Of course. And I know you don’t want to compromise your design, especially not so early on and in such a large way, but what of just one additional layer:
Create a new Document -> Create a new text File
Burn a CD -> Burn an audio CD
Having to scroll is bad.
>what of just one additional layer:
>Create a new Document -> Create a new text File
Very interesting… but this conflicts with the suggestion of Artem to have another panel with file types. Which seems more general. Your solution OTOH means intermixing items and folders in the same list, but is more powerful because the type panel solution does not allow to have only one Burn verb…
>Burn a CD -> Burn an audio CD
I have to think about it. Thanks
Obviously, “Files” do not apply to every possible action — take for example the “Burn CD”. But what if we have a panel named “Of type…” where in the case of “Create a document” we could specify a .txt file type and in case of “Burn CD” we could specify the type of CD, etc? Seems like a very reasonable solution to me…
I realize that the name “Of type…” is not very good. But the idea stands, I just can’t pick a suitable generalized name for this thing. Perhaps the name of the column should be dependent on the action chosen?
>>>”from the right-click | “Open With…” in Windows. This has been around for years and only displays programs that can view the file clicked on???”
Windows does display a list of applications but it does not narrow down the applications that can process a file by association. <<<
BeOS does….
I do like the name.
maybe segusoLand could be shortened to sgsl.
Ultimate Whizzzzeee App sound quite impersonal and poor IMO
In a single progam, you appear to have captured the ideas that Apple has been trying to work towards for years!
This idea is good, very good, and yes it needs refinement and integration into the UI. But keeping the program as is to work out conceptual features is probaly a better idea for now.
Interestingly, the Open BeOS projects are looking for their next generation ideas, this would be a good one for them.
Hello,
I saw segoso, the author, was posting into the comp.lang.prolog newsgroup so i was wondering about if he has a sort of grammar formalism behing segusoland (something about adding semantic action based upon semantic grammar) ;.. In fact I was wondering about how far are you from the guys from standford who are designing a new filemanager based on semantic action (the formalism backbone is HPSG, a powerful syntax-semantic model) and it’s also have a prolog engine…