Re: Proposal: Add item to Top Menu Bar that opens Application Switcher when pressed instead of the proposed windows list

[William Jon McCann <william jon mccann gmail com>]

Hi,

Sorry for the slow response.

On Thu, Nov 26, 2009 at 10:23 AM, Janne Liljeblad
<janne liljeblad gmail com> wrote:
>
>
> Hi,
>
> I'm believe getting rid of window list buttons in Gnome Shell and not
> providing drop down window list might actually be a good idea. It reduces
> visual noise and after 15 years of clicking those buttons I myself am ready
> to try something new. There are obviously some problems with this:

Great.  Glad to hear it!

> - almost all users are completely mentally trained to switch applications by
> pressing task bar buttons
> - minimized windows just disappear and have no representation outside of the
> Activities Overview
>
> These two problems (and others) might be show stoppers for wide acceptance
> of gnome shell.

I really would rather not be motivated by fear or speculation.  My
view on this is that if we find that there is a problem in the user
experience (through testing) we'll iterate the designs as necessary.

I'll add that we should be particularly careful or wary when
considering issues of so-called missing features.  A feature by
feature (or implementation detail) comparison is much less interesting
to me than comparison of the overall experience.  We want the user to
be in the moment.  This moment is for action.

> I believe there is a simple solution that solves both of these problems or
> at least makes them markedly less drastic:
>
> Let's make Application Switcher first class member of the concept by giving
> it representation in the Top Menu Bar
>
> Top left corner of screen would look something like this:
>
> ----------------------------------------------- - -
> | Activities | @a Firefox | @w 3  |
> ----------------------------------------------- - -
>
> - @a is application icon
> - @w is an icon representing window, a simple rounded square with thickened
> top side to represent window decoration would probably be best
> - 3 is number of windows in current workspace. This changes when windows are
> opened or closed or workspace is switched.
>
> The proposed Application Switcher Item should/might also slightly flash when
> apps are opened or closed to signal change:
>
> ---------------------------*********----------- - -
> | Activities | @a Firefox |* @w 3  *|
> ---------------------------*********----------- - -
>
> - ZING, change happening
>
> So what happens when user presses this item?
>
> Well... the exact same thing that happens when user presses ALT + TAB:
> Application Switcher appears.
>
> The Application Switcher Item should also have the same "selected background
> color" when  Application Switcher is displayed either using this new item or
> by pressing ALT + TAB.
>
> The pros and cons of this idea are in my view as follows:
>
> The Pros:
> - makes Application Switcher more discoverable and important item by giving
> it visual top level representation
> - provides migration path from the current paradigm. When users try Gnome
> Shell they *will* press this and discover Application Switcher. A suggestion
> to use ALT + TAB instead would be displayed when item pressed for the first
> time
> - minimized windows will have representation outside of Activities Overview
> - minimizing and closing windows actions differ visually. Closing window
> causes the item to flash and the number in the item to change
> - gives touch operated interfaces better access to app switching
> - replaces the proposed windows list with the preferred solution from the
> design point of view
>
> The Cons:
> - makes concept slightly less "pure" by making it more window oriented
> - many users will use item to initiate task switch thus doing two clicks
> instead the currently one. This, however, is a choice that should actually
> be represented but not encouraged.
> - makes Activities Overview slightly less important whitch might reduce the
> novelty/consistency of the concept. This might also be considered a pro.
> - displaying the number of windows in a workspace is often redundant
>
> Overall, I believe this would be a big win and should be implemented.

Interesting ideas.  It is certainly good to discuss ideas like this -
especially if we later find these things to be major problems.

Thanks,
Jon