BumpTop 3D Desktop prototype
BumpTop is a project that applies physics simulation to the desktop in order to resemble the real-world effects of a true desktop. Not a true computer desktop, but the top of your desk, literally. Since a workplace in the physical world generally has stacks and piles of papers and documents, BumpTop reflects that by using piling instead of filing. The piles are generally stacked chronologically since the files you most recently added go on top. However, they’ve cleverly incorporated many tricks to add files in the middle and bottom of a pile. Also, they’ve enabled ways to build “shelves” on the sides of the desktop container. You can literally throw files on a stack or over in a corner for later use. The entire desktop incorporates characteristics like mass and friction, and when thrown into another pile, the other files are displaced as expected. To show significance, you can make files bigger to stand out in the mess. What’s cool about that is they actually act like they’re bigger—bigger objects are heavier and more sluggish to move. The entire interface is “pen-centric” as they tend to call it, which gives a better feeling of realism since the file under the pen tip is the active file. You can draw loops to select files, use commands to step into different modes, open menus, etc. It’s a really, really cool innovation. Personally, it’s nothing like I’ve ever seen before. You should check it out:
Chris Monday, 16 Oct, 2006 Posted at 12:06PM
I’d seen this awhile back, but couldn’t remember the name of it – thanks for posting :-p
Ryan Monday, 16 Oct, 2006 Posted at 01:52PM
You know, come to think of it, didn’t you mention (a while ago) a piece of Linux software or something that did something like this? The only thing I can remember is the objects acting like jello when you move them. And they would stick to each other if they were close enough. I could be way off, though.
Chris Tuesday, 17 Oct, 2006 Posted at 04:52AM
Well, the Linux thing is called Xgl, and it makes the windows jiggy when you drag them around and gives you multiple desktops on a rotating cube. It does some other stuff too, but it’s definitely not as innovative as BumpTop.