Saturday, June 10, 2006

Desktop arranger - a post to gnome usability list

My post to usability@gnome.org list:

Hi,

I have an usability issue that I would like to discuss, most of all I need your opinion on usefulness of concept that I've been thinking about.

I have been heavy desktop-area user since I started to use Gnome years ago. I keep all my recent and open project files right there on the desktop, not buried in different folders. I have found that this really
boosts my productivity and offers me a good review of my affairs anytime just by looking at my desktop. Naturally there are some issues when you have 50+ files on the desktop as I do, so I'd like to test with you a
concept that I've been dreaming about for some time.

I guess there is no better place to talk about it then this list, but if I'm on the wrong place please direct me elsewhere :))

Ok, lets go:

You can guess that "clean up by name" or "keep aligned" options are no good for my situation, I arrange all my files and folders on the desktop manually which can be tedious job sometimes. Long ago I have concluded
that probably the best way to solve this problem will be a little more sophisticated desktop arranger tool.

By running some tests I have found out that users can efficiently deal with numerous files on desktop if desktop area is somehow separated into zones.

Simple test included the following setup:
- all launchers were removed from desktop into panel
- desktop was filled with files, folders, links and mounted media icons sorted by type or by context
- desktop wallpaper image suggested "zones" by using grids or lines to separate different areas

Almost all users after some time testified that they feel more comfortable with this setup, then they were with "clean up by name" or "keep aligned" options and much less files.

However, as available screen resolution grows so grows the number of files and manually sorting them becomes a problem, especially if you rearranged them accidentally. In my opinion this is easily solvable if we
can offer users a tool to designate different areas on desktop for different file types or contexts.

That's why I believe we need such tool.

Suggested concept is simple. For instance if user can divide desktop into six zones and specify for example:
- all folders go to zone 1
- all links to zone 2
- all sxw or odt to zone 3
- all files that contains *customer* in the filename to zone 4
- etc.

...and if this sorting works automatically when you bring the object to the desktop, users can have tidy and logically sorted desktop without having to position files manually. They can easily navigate, find and
use files that they need close by hand anyway.

This way IMHO we can more efficiently implement desk metaphor into computer environment and ease user/computer interaction a little bit :))

Of course I'm aware that there are many users that prefer to keep clean desktop and all files tucked into folder structure, but there are also many like me that like to clutter the desktop while working so I think
there is considerably wide user base that will find such tool valuable.

What I need you to tell me is the following:

1. Am I completely out of my mind?
2. If not, what do you think about the idea, does it really contribute to gnome usability?
3. Is it implementable at all?
4. Will it be worth the effort?

Ok, that's it, I hope I was comprehensible enough considering English is not my primary language.

Sorry about lengthy mail.

Thanks.