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

[Janne Liljeblad <janne liljeblad gmail com>]

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:
 
- 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 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.
 
Regards,
 
Janne Liljeblad