What if we got rid of windows?

[Brassbud]

Notice how I didn't capitalize the word "windows", I don't just mean the popular operating system, but the concept itself. I've thought about this before but looking at a Windows Vista logo a minute ago inspired this post. The name "Vista" sounds a lot better than "Windows Vista", but what would taking the "Windows" out really mean?

Since the latter days of DOS people have used different windows to signify different programs. Of course this really took off with Windows 3.1, but even other modern operating systems have strayed little from the formula. Both major competing operating systems today, OS X and Linux, as well as the namesake OS itself, use the same basic UI. WHat if this were to change with the next big OS release, what if programs (3rd party included) ran seamlessly with the OS, and organization was accomplished without visual boundries?

Do we like windows because they resemble pieces of paper? Maybe, but then again, pieces of paper exist because they are the best practical option in a physical world. Without those physical limitations, don't you think we could think of something better?

 

[daniel49]

uhmm, ok howbout skylights
rotated 90 degrees to allow the data to be viewed easier?

 

[Canterwood]

😕

Dude, you need think less and drink more :beer:

 

[kamper]

Well, produce a practical example of "something better" and we'll see how well we like it 🙂

But isn't this what ms bob was all about? Never used it, but I've never heard anything but scathing criticism for it.

 

[Nothinman]

WHat if this were to change with the next big OS release, what if programs (3rd party included) ran seamlessly with the OS, and organization was accomplished without visual boundries?

How would you differentiate between them without visual boundaries?

 

[ivwshane]

If there weren't windows my guess is that there would be virtual desktops like there is in most linux gui's.

 

[ProviaFan]

Originally posted by: ivwshane
If there weren't windows my guess is that there would be virtual desktops like there is in most linux gui's.

And going back to having a full screen app on each "desktop" would be a huge downgrade. Fact is, the window concept works better than anything so far, and there's really no need to change it. What could be improved is how we manage large numbers of windows, and how related "windows" are presented to the user (tabs representing multiple documents in one program, for example). I don't have a lot of ideas here yet, but for one, tabs could be made consistent across all multiple-document applications on an operating system, and it would be useful if they could be "torn off" their parent window to become windows on their own, or "docked" back to the parent if desired.

 

[Markbnj]

Fundamental paradigms like this one tend to be persistent for a long time. Some people still call the big white thing in the kitchen that keeps the food cold and "icebox."

Believe me, there are many, many UI researchers in academia and the military working on figuring out what the next paradigm is. Personally, I don't think the screen/window/keyboard combination will be replaced until we have truly intuitive voice command, and perhaps not even then. Might see more evolution in pointing devices, but even that is not certain.

 

[Nothinman]

If there weren't windows my guess is that there would be virtual desktops like there is in most linux gui's.

Which is the same thing only with an extremely more limited ability to multitask since you could only have 1 'subject' on the screen at a time.