March 10, 2008

BumpTop: Spatial File Browsing Prototype

I’ve already written about spatial thinking. BumpTop is an example of an entirely spatial, mode-less file (and window) organizer which actually replicates a real-world desk, using only positioning, resizing and creasing/crumpling of files as a means of organizing and finding them. There’s a demo video on the BumpTop web site, and a movie on YouTube explains some of the concepts.

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designed_for_use_small

If you liked this, you'll love my book. It's called Designed for Use: Create Usable Interfaces for Applications and the Web. In it, I cover the whole design process, from user research and sketching to usability tests and A/B testing. But I don't just explain techniques, I also talk about concepts like discoverability, when and how to use animations, what we can learn from video games, and much more.

You can find out more about it (and order it directly, printed or as a DRM-free ebook) on the Pragmatic Programmers website.