Project Looking Glass screenshots

DemoCoder · Mar 30, 2004

Thought you might find these interesting. It's Sun's "Longhorn-like" research on 3D desktops

http://wwws.sun.com/software/looking_glass/details.html

I like the idea of "flipping over windows" so you can take notes on the backside of them, or access preferences on the back. I also like the vertical stacking.

retsam · Mar 30, 2004

i saw this a few months back at linux expo here in new york city ... i was really impressed with the gui.... but what impressed me more was that it was writen by one guys in java !!!!! lets just hope they release it for windows as an addon

retsam

DemoCoder · Mar 30, 2004

Probably uses the OpenGL bindings for Java, not for rasterization.

Vince · Mar 30, 2004

DemoCoder said:
Thought you might find these interesting. It's Sun's "Longhorn-like" research on 3D desktops.

Thanks Democoder! Very cool. The first thing that came to my mind was controlling such an interface efficiently and how cool would this be if it was used with Sony's (SCE) active research (Or briefly about future here) into visual recognition and gesture based input?

Ostsol · Mar 30, 2004

Damn. I thought it was some sort of remake project for Looking Glass games using modern engines. . .

3dcgi · Mar 30, 2004

I'm still not convinced how useful a 3d interface will be with our current input devices, but I like to see new research in this area. I have a feeling I won't be convinced until I can actually use the interface for myself. I do like that Looking Glass seems to work very well with current 2d applications though. That's essential.

KimB · Mar 30, 2004

Well, at the very least, it'll look pretty damned cool. But yeah, it probably won't be all that useful. But hell, it sure does beat pretty much any UI we've seen in a sci-fi movie/show to date

My main issue with it would be that most of the time, I have only one program open, and that program is working full-screen (or maximized). If I have multiple programs open, I'm either switching between maximized apps, or I'm coding, and have to be able to read see multiple windows at once (i.e. type in one window, read another). I don't think a 3D windows interface would help me with any of these tasks.

I just need more monitors.

no_way · Mar 30, 2004

Chalnoth said:
Well, at the very least, it'll look pretty damned cool. But yeah, it probably won't be all that useful.

Im pretty sure that the true paradigm shift in interfaces with computing devices will come from entirely different direction, not making our current 2d screens with keyboards and mice cumbersome arrangement even more intricate.
Here are couple of indications on how it might work out:
http://plyojump.com/weblog/2004_03_07_archive.html ( scroll down to "Robots as the next computing interface" )

http://roboticnation.blogspot.com

ram · Mar 30, 2004

The concepts are cool.

In reality, Sun is moving to the completly other direction. They still sell expensive workstations with Ati Rage XL GPUs on board. Somehow, you can't take them serious when speaking about "3d desktops".

Bambers · Mar 30, 2004

look all very gimmicky and fiddly to me :|

DemoCoder · Mar 30, 2004

I don't think the idea of a "two-sided" window is all that gimmicky anymore than Unix's concept of "screen management" is gimmicky.

Quitch · Mar 30, 2004

Looks nice... but impractical. On the other hand, I like the idea of browsing Beyond3D and when my boss comes I flip the window around and suddenly I'm working

nutball · Mar 30, 2004

Never been convinced by the 3D desktop concept myself. It's always struck me as a solution looking for a problem.

I can't say that those screenshots have changed my perception.

Bjorn · Mar 30, 2004

I actually thought it looked useful.

jb · Mar 30, 2004

Thanks DC as it was neat info!

hoom · Mar 30, 2004

3d desktop will be handy when we have proper surround displays (which will probably be a projector on glasses or a direct eye nerve implant).

Then you'll be able to work in a spherical space, surrounded by interactive objects.

gokickrocks · Mar 31, 2004

what happens when you dont want the multiple windows to be rotated?

DemoCoder · Mar 31, 2004

I dunno, but I'm sure there could be a "restore all" button or expose'-like feature.

Bambers · Mar 31, 2004

Quitch said:
Looks nice... but impractical. On the other hand, I like the idea of browsing Beyond3D and when my boss comes I flip the window around and suddenly I'm working

yes but is that really any different from an alt-tab with fancy graphics? :?

Lecram25 · Apr 1, 2004

Chalnoth said:
But hell, it sure does beat pretty much any UI we've seen in a sci-fi movie/show to date

umm, LCARS pwns j00!1!!!1

Project Looking Glass screenshots

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