Re: [Usability] Idea: Systemwide adressbar

[Matthew Paul Thomas <mpt myrealbox com>]

On Jul 23, 2007, at 8:48 AM, Saad Shakhshir wrote:
> How about quick access to a dialog prompt that understands natural 
> language commands - simple ones to begin with like 'spell-check' or 
> 'e-mail' or 'open calculator'.  As people spend more and more of their 
> time on the web, they are getting used to typing to get where they 
> want to go.  This is more intuitive than using URL's because with the 
> exception of a few URL's, I find that most people tend to type where 
> they want to go into the Google search bar and then have that take 
> them there.  They would just need to think about what they want to do 
> or where they want to go, express that in a few words through quick 
> access to a prompt (like quicksilver on the mac), and then get taken 
> there or have the action performed.
> ...

That would be nifty, but would take quite a while to do.

First you would need to design and implement a scripting architecture 
for Gnome apps. (Cf. Open Scripting Architecture, ARexx port system.)

Then, design and implement a natural-language programming language for 
this architecture. (Cf. AppleScript.)

Then, design and implement scripting support in all your favorite Gnome 
apps. (Commands like "open" and "open with" wouldn't require app 
support, but commands like "spell-check" and "print" and "get my 10 
most favorite songs" would.)

Finally, get Deskbar to run entered scripts, ideally caching the 
command sets exposed by installed applications so it can quickly tell 
whether some text is a valid command or not.

Cheers
--
Matthew Paul Thomas
http://mpt.net.nz/