Zoomable User Interface

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Jeko
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Zoomable User Interface

Post by Jeko »

I want to implement ZUI (Zoomable User Interface) in my os.
Have you anything about ZUI?

Thank you
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01000101
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Post by 01000101 »

I have absolutely no experience or knowlege in GUI development, but I will still say that I like the idea.
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Craze Frog
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Post by Craze Frog »

Do you mean scalable? Like vector graphics?
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JamesM
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Post by JamesM »

I would say (from a guessing standpoint) that you should just make your algorithm up.

How do *you* think a zoomable UI could be accomplished? Are you using scalar or vector graphics for your UI? scalar graphics would be easiest to write a zoom function (just look up linear scaling and filtering), but would require massive amounts of memory for decent results. Vector graphics will be harder all round, but you will get better results.
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os64dev
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Post by os64dev »

Use scalable vector graphics fro better results:

mainsite:
Anti-Grain Geometry

example:

Scalable ToolBar
Author of COBOS
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frank
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Post by frank »

Can I ask, for my benefit, what do you mean by zoomable user interface?
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Colonel Kernel
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Post by Colonel Kernel »

The closest thing I can think of to a "zoomable" interface is a research project I heard of a while ago called Archy. It was a big departure from traditional GUIs in that it had no windows, menus, etc. Everything was done with either direct manipulation or entering text. There were no folders visible to the user either -- everything was a file, and they were all scattered around on the desktop at various scales. Jeff Han's multi-touch demo reminded me of the Archie demo I saw a few years ago.

Another "zoomable" UI I know of is the Safari web browser on the iPhone. IIRC, it makes use of new resolution independence features of OS X.

<edit>Fixed the link to "Archy"</edit>
Last edited by Colonel Kernel on Sat Nov 03, 2007 12:20 am, edited 2 times in total.
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binutils
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Post by binutils »

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zooming_User_Interface

maybe mouse need to be modified adding horizontal wheel for zoom in/out.
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