[Usability] Definition of "desktop" and associated terms.

[Pat Costello <Patrick Costello Sun COM>]

First of all, apologies for the multiple cross-posting of this mail. This topic 
has been discussed in several different places in the past, and is relevant to 
everyone. 

There has been discussion for some time about the meaning of the term "desktop", 
and associated terms. The confusion arises mainly from the common custom of 
everyone talking about "the desktop" to mean everything that a user sees on 
screen. But when we tried to document the term according to this common custom, 
there were strong objections that "the desktop" is "the place behind the icons". 
We've been thinking over this contradiction for some time, trying to come up 
with a solution that will satisfy all requirements. Interestingly enough, this 
issue resurfaced once more at the GUADEC conference during Calum's usability 
presentation. 

So, here is an attempt at defining "desktop" terminology, and associated terms, 
proposed by Pat, Breda, Eugene and Irene: 

GNOME Desktop
-------------

Definition: 	The totality of all windows, panels, and workspaces.
Usage:  	For marketing purposes, book titles, references to the product.
Rules:  	Always use the term GNOME in this context, always use
		uppercase D in "Desktop". 
		The version number of GNOME can be included after the word 		
		GNOME.
Example: 	GNOME 2.0 Desktop for the Solaris 9 Operating System.
 
desktop environment
-------------------

Definition: 	The totality of all windows, panels, and workspaces.
Usage: 		In Help, in documentation body text, in the UI.
Rules: 		Normal prose rules.
Example: 	"You can use themes to change the appearance of your desktop 		
		  environment."
 
desktop
-------
     
Definition:  	The part of the desktop environment where there are no interface 	
		graphical items, such as panels and windows.
Usage: 		In the UI, in Help, in documentation body text.
Rules: 		Normal prose rules, normal UI rules.
Example: 	"Right-click on the desktop to open the Desktop menu."
 
desktop background
------------------

Definition: 	The image that is applied to the desktop.
Usage: 		In the UI, in Help, in documentation body text.
Rules: 		Normal prose rules, normal UI rules.
Example: 	"To change the desktop background, right-click on the
 		desktop, then choose Change Desktop Background from the Desktop 	
		menu."
	
Pat