Originally posted at http://rethinking.squarespace.com
You're going to have to bear with me. This could be a bit of a rambling entry. I'm thinking perhaps I should change the subtitle of this blog, because it's very likely that my POVs on UI could come to bear here. OTOH, I'm thinking about heading over to Wincustomize and setting up shop there, at least as far as UI goes. There would probably be more of an audience.
Again, I'm requesting some synergy. I had some pretty good input in the last entry about UI design. Let's keep talking about it.
Point of clarification: in this article, a "task" refers to an objective to be accomplished (write a paper, design a web page, design a graphic, etc.) rather than the program that accomplishes the task. Why? Because sometimes it requires several programs (or processes) to accomplish a task. But still only one task was done.
What is the best way to manage the things we do on a PC? I'm thinking about various methods...specifically those that can be implmented on Windows.
- Dock. It's nice. Works well on MacOS. Windows' task management works different than POSIX-based OS's, however. The idea of having a common place to manage and launch tasks has some merit. I do not like the fact that programs stay running until you select the "quit" menu item. Very unintuitive. But the idea of tasks and launchers going together is good. Sadly, the only way that works on Windows is through RK Launcher. And if you have multiple windows, you're sunk. Yes, there are other dock clones on Windows. But none of them manages windows...only processes. Or if they manage windows, they do it via several separate icons...very space-consuming and confusing. Another problem, though, is the idea of managing multiple windows through one icon. Microsoft introduced this with XP, as well--"task grouping." Sorry, guys. Loser idea. It takes longer for me to do that, than to click through a couple of taskbar buttons. Same problem on MacOS, which brings us to...
- Expose. Great feature. Works beautifully on MacOS. Still buggy and slow on Windows, unless you're running the latest and greatest. There's gotta be a better way to do things on Windows. But for window management, it's a great system...especially if you get about 20 windows open on your screen. Incidentally, for Windows, I recommend TopDesk at www.otakusoftware.com. $10, and works best of the breed. Very stable.
- Taskbar. Good concept. Works OK if you've only got about 4, max 5, windows open. Not the most efficient, but certainly less resource-intensive than the first two options. But the taskbar gets crowded quickly, especially if you actually use the Quick Launch.
- Tasklist. A better idea if it would pop up on mouseover. Otherwise, it's slow. But it is more precise than other methods. Probably the next best thing to Expose if you have many windows open. Can be found in alternate Windows Shells and in Pre-OS X Mac OS.
- Hotkey. Works well for flipping between two windows. Otherwise, a waste of time.
- NeXT Dock. Good idea; the un-evolved OS X dock--this is where it all began. Same concept as the OS X dock, except that it doesn't show all running processes in one place. Definitely the same weaknesses at the OS X dock, but takes up the same screen real estate.
- Virtual desktop. Task-based management. Good idea--most WM's don't work with the idea...making all tasks visible on all windows. Still, you can put one set of tasks in each VD, and you can move between sets of "work" rather than flipping between windows. This is a dream system for web design---graphics editing on one desktop, coding on another, previews on still another. And your email client on the fourth...just cuz you need it. 
I think that covers the basic systems. If you think of another, let me know. I'm dying to see it.
Quick synopsis before my laptop battery dies:
Best ideas, IMHO...
* An integrated task-management and launching system. Works well, if there were an efficient way to manage windows. "Task grouping" is a loser idea...especially since it's misnamed. All windows for a program are not necessarily related to a "task" being performed.
* Expose-like features manage windows well...not necessarily "tasks," though.
* Hotkeys are great for window-flipping.
* Virutal desktops are the way to go...if you can filter tasks easily...and switch between them easily.
I've got an idea going here...
* A full-screen VDM, acessible by hotkey or hotspot (probably both); kind of like Expose, except that it takes you to a particular task, rather than a particlular program; desktops have a name that reflects their purpose; e.g. Graphics, Coding, Preview, Research, etc...
* Something like Expose, perhaps, within each Virtual Desktop...
* But definitely each desktop would only visibly show the programs relevant to that particular task, via a tasklist or taskbar, or even a dock.
* Each VD could be "saved," so that its particular set of programs could be launched and the desktop could be opened with a single-click, once set up. This could include programs and documents. The ability to open particular documents would be important. Imagine someone who does land appraisal, among other things. With a single click, s/he could open Appraisal Software, a proprietary database, a spreadsheet with the appropriate formulas in a template, and a word processor template document on which to transfer the data. Single click, it's all there. And once the desktop is launched, it is brought up on screen, ready to work with.
* There would be a home screen, from which tasks could be sorted onto their respective desktops by drag-and-drop--or where a program would come up by default (I use OO.o Writer for lots of stuff...not just articles and papers), especially if you simply wanted to check email or something. It would be foolish to have a "Communication" desktop with IM, Browser, and Email and have to go through all the rigamarole of switching to it if all you wanted to do was check your email. K.I.S.S., you know.
* The home screen would also integrate a master tasklist--where one could access any window with a single click (or two)--and be taken to that task AND that desktop.
These are just some ideas. Intuitive implementation...well, that's another story. Most average PC users don't use half the capability of the stock OS, much less need something like this. But if you could train people...man, the power. And to think, there are people who still don't have a clue that Windows multitasks. Yes, really. I'm a consultant. I've seen it.
Comment on this, please...
Update on Sunday, July 3, 2005 at 11:55PM by Tory Larson
As an addendum here...
Stardock's VDM has some of these features:
* ability to name desktop and assign hotkeys
* ability to assign programs via DND (needs refinement)
* taskbar filtering
Microsoft's VDM has:
* assignable hotkeys
* only 4 desktops, but...
* ability to preview them all fullscreen
* no custom names (which defeats the above feature a bit)
* taskbar filtering
So it's a start...there's other software out there, so hopefully I'll find something. Or Stardock could jump in here. *grins*