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Futuristic Design, Inc.
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StraightFace column archive |
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May 15, 2000 Someone forgot to tell this group that Microsoft doesn't innovate. Well, let's not tell 'em for awhile...
How
many people have you heard drone emphatically that Microsoft never
innovates; they merely copy proven and popular software from other
vendors? I would figure quite a few by now.
And I'm not arguing with that point historically speaking,
because let's face it, Microsoft hasn't delivered anything radically
new in user interface design in quite some time. A new control here, a
fancy toolbar there, but nothing Earth shattering - until now. Behind
the scenes of the daily drama the media has created around Microsoft's
legal problems and the recent release of Windows 2000, the Microsoft
Research group has steadily been writing and publishing research
papers and proof of concept software to let the rest of us see what a
bright team and millions of R&D dollars can produce. But, I'm not
fooled into thinking this is merely blue sky stuff for academics to
argue over. I'd guess we're looking at the real future of the Windows
operating system. And if I'm right, we'll all be stealing, uh... I
meant, be inspired by them. I'm
not saying that Microsoft Research conceived or invented all of this
stuff themselves with no academic or industry influences, but
regardless, these projects point to where we all want to go today. You're
so transparent With
the introduction of Windows 2000 and Internet Explorer 5, user
interface designers, engineers and web hacks have something new in
their bag of tricks -- the ability to make anything transparent or
translucent. Without question, this will be the most abused feature of
IE 5.5. It's just too cool to pass up. I'm mean, what UI designer or
coding geek wouldn't want to make things see-through just for the hell
of it. Any window or web page element can have its translucency
adjusted as a whole, making it possible for floating tool palettes and
dialogs to be less intrusive on the workspace. Even Apple's Aqua has
started using this for general purpose alerts and application
messages. 3-D
Desktop, anyone? Believe
it or not, Microsoft Research is already far ahead in the race to
develop a three dimensional Desktop that runs off-the-shelf Windows
apps. They recently published a paper about The Task Gallery, a
prototype 3D replacement for today's flat and boring Desktop. Instead
of the Windows Explorer to open and use apps from, you're in a room or
"gallery" where you can place applications and documents on
the walls. It's one of those things you really have to see to
appreciate. Surprisingly well thought out, this looks like a great
interim step on the road to fully immersive workspaces. Anyone outside
Microsoft would have been hard pressed to make this work, as they
steal the bits out of the running applications and use them as texture
maps to the planes that occupy the 3D space. Nice. Stay Tuned
Microsoft has been collecting some of the world’s best user interface and 3D talent over the last several years. It’s only a matter of time until they release a truly break-out user experience for the desktop or information appliances. And seeing the caliber of projects coming out of the Research group, I for one can’t wait. Do yourself a favor and check them out http://research.microsoft.com And
be sure to credit them when you’re pitching that 3D operating system
to the VCs, OK? M. Pell
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