June 22, 2006
BumpTop Prototype
There is some really interesting research happening in the area of user interface metaphors. With the advent of really powerful computers and very fast video cards it is becoming easier and easier to use these expensive resources for more basic things like general graphical user interfaces. We are already seeing this with full graphics accelerated desktops as used in Apple's OSX and Microsoft's soon to be release Windows Vista. But these user interfaces are still based primarily on the standard windows metaphor. BumpTop is different as it uses the more physical piles metaphors. This is based on the concept that in people's offices normally piles of documents are created and physical location and orientation become the primary cues for finding things. BumpTop uses these same metaphors in a pen based user interface. What results is a very clean and interesting user interface which makes lots of sense for tablet PCs or some of the newer displays that are either using large touch screens that support multiple user inputs or screens that use cameras to track gestures for inputs.
The best way to understand is to have a look at the video that shows the possibilities of the BumpTop interface.
Links
BumpTop Page
