Mind Spheres

Assoziative Navigation

Für die Weltausstellung EXPO2000 in Hannover wurde ein besonderes Modell entwickelt, um eine spielerische Bewegung durch den Kosmos der Themen und Begriffe zu ermöglichen. Grundlage war ein spezieller Thesaurus.

Mind Spheres

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EXPO2000. THE VISITOR INTERFACE

By Lowry Burgess and Winfried Schmitz-Esser with the assistance of Jason Yates

GENERAL INTRODUCTION:

This document assumes familiarity with the Visual Interface I document. It is a further specification of the functions of the Visitor Interface. It approaches more closely the production of actual interface screens. It also explains more specifically what the user will see and experience.

At the beginning of this level of specification, it needs to be stated emphatically that the users~ touch contact with the screen is very different in quality than normal touch screen interaction.

The overarching touch effects are those of feeling as though the user is reaching into the world of the interface. The user ~reaches~ into the Visitor Interface through the screen into a world that responds to their touch as in the real world. Thus enhancing our central concept of transparency between the real world and the ~world~ of the Visitor Interface.

All INFO-Objects and Information Extension Ring and Real World Extension Bar functions behave as objects in a real world with which the user has actual contact.

These relationships can be described as gravity, friction, impedance, and momentum.

Ascribing these kinetic characteristics in an overall naturalistic space and light will profoundly change both the quality and lucidity of all interactions with the whole system.

The general principles at every level are those of constancy, redundancy and predictability.

This aids readability and interactivity. This creates clear, navigational control.

These same relationships apply to all sounds in the Visitor Interface. They move, echo, disappear in the same ways as sounds do in the real world.

For each level in the Visitor Interface selection there is an intrinsic or implied geometric structure that underlies and differentiates the appearance of objects in the Interface space. (i.e. 3, 5 or 7) and also the number of moves or choices in time.

This applies either formally or informally to the number of information objects on the screen (not including the Information Extension Ring or the Real World Extension Bar). For example, when a user is at the orientation level, they would in general see no more than three INFO-Objects at any time.

As a user enters the more complex levels of the system; i.e., information or knowledge levels, the underlying screen configuration becomes accordingly more complex and likewise extended in moves or choices in time. This also means that at each level there is the is a similar rule about reaching a destination or number of touches to the screen. ( 3, 5, or 7). While we can imagine exceptions, we feel that these ~rules~ should be constantly in mind.

This intrinsic geometry is directly related to the amount of time available to each user at each level.

All appearances of INFO-Objects on the screens are smooth and soft - transitions are never abrupt.

To reiterate, the overarching presence of the spherical lens/crystal/eye concept of the Visitor Interface dominates all screen characteristics.

To further elaborate, the spheres functions such as vertical and horizontal rotation, as stated and shown previously, also contains the possibility, where appropriate, of containing other spheres within itself. Each internal sphere contains a world coherent within itself related to the particular INFO-Object in the middle of the screen.

This concept gives coherence to the reference field surrounding any INFO-Object and helps with the overall concept of unpacking or packing information.

All transformations of the spherical interface and its Accompanying world are governed by transformative metaphors like flowering, spiraling, twisting, unfolding, turning inside-out, or bubbling.

The appearance of actual INFO-Objects with their functionalities isdetermined by the position of the INFO object on the screen.

When an INFO-Object is dragged or moved, its relationship to its net (vectors) becomes momentarily visible.

This connective potential fades to permit less visual distraction on the screen surface. (The user is always reminded that there are related INFO objects nearby.)

For a selected INFO-Object, a zoom function will accompany it. It will allow movement toward or away from any INFO object, thereby permitting it to be seen in its larger net/context or to be seen close up for specific detailed information.

The zoom is indicated by a spectrum of color, i.e., a spectral halo around and above the INFO object.

Moving left will zoom out to a larger or more general view.

Moving right will zoom in to a smaller or more specific view.

The zoom function also determines the availability of the INFORMATION EXTENSION RING ('IER').

For example, when the user is far from the INFO-Object the Extension Ring disappears.

Conversely, as user gets closer to the information object, the user obtains more information extensions.

SCREEN TOUCH PROTOCOLS:

Dragging is the constant or continuous touch of the finger on the screen.

INFO-Objects may be dragged in any direction.

After the user takes his finger off (called "Mouse-Up") the object remains static.

If the INFO-Object is dragged to the middle of the screen and released, it may open, if that opening function is present.

To open an INFO-Object you touch it and release it, without moving it.

Zooming is the ability to move in on or away from any particular INFO-Object. It is the Z function in the Visitor Interface. (The sphere contains the X and Y functions.)

For zooming, the user needs to touch the zoom spectrum and drag (dragging right zooms in and dragging left zooms out).

After touching and/or dragging the INFO-Object indicates further interaction by glowing or humming.

There is a multiple selection function with which a user may select a group of INFO-Objects.

This function would appear and be available only in the knowledge level and even then would only appear when appropriate.

The zoom function provides the unpacking or packing dimension to INFO-Objects.

Zooming in provides the visitor with the power see and hear other functions and information surrounding an INFO-Object.

Zooming out allows the visitor to see and hear the larger context surrounding the INFO-Object.

The combinations of zooming, rotating, dragging constantly give the visitor a sense of context, reference and vectoring in the ~real world~ of the Visitor Interface.

THE REAL WORLD EXTENSION BAR ("RWEB")

All RWEB functions which require processing in time, indicate that processing by flashing, glowing or clocking. This shows that some process is happening (i.e., printing or retrieving).

All RWEB functions are object like, not simple function buttons.

All RWEB functions are part of a coherent, graphical and sonic world consistent with the aesthetic of the overall screen space (i.e., objects in natural space and light). No normal buttons, no typical or mundane graphical indicators will be used.

These functions need to be archetypically defined like objects on a table in a still-life world, coherently and smoothly related to the Information Extension Ring and the Spherical Interface worlds.

Everything is coherent in one space, light, sense of movement in time and sound in space. (Sounds move away or nearer, they change their texture and complexity in space.)

Nothing is unidimensional or flat in appearance or effect.

THE INFORMATION EXTENSION RING (the "IER")

The IER is a ring of functions potentially surrounding any INFO-Object from the larger spherical interface to a small nutshell. It becomes visible when an INFO-Object is approached or opened. It displays only those functions that are permanent to the specific selected INFO-Object. All functions do not apply to every INFO-Object. Therefore, only those functions which are relevant and active appear.

The IER is not a flat graphical ring but rather a set of orbits with planets surrounding the gravitational importance of a selected INFO-Object. The IER, itself, is attractive, thereby calling for interaction.

In general, options in the IER occupy consistent positions.

For example, the pavilion option is always to the right.

The category topics, (i.e., thematic topics) occupy, at whatever level detail, the bottom and most obvious position on the screen.

Events, i.e., would be flagged and appear at the top of the screen.

There is only one IER at any time, no matter if multiple objects are concurrently open. If the user is static for any fixed period of time, the various functions of the IER then call to the user by pulsing, glowing or vibrating.

CONCLUSION

Everything in the Visitor Interface World must be easy to use, self teaching, transparent, practical, real world and absolutely beautiful.

These functions should make user want to interact with them more and more. They should be playful and subtle, always pointing at other potentials. All elements of the Visitor Interface world must be coherent -- all are interacting in a unified interconnected reality. All aspects of the Visitor Interface are resonant with each other.

There are two main types of users one having a desire and the other who does not.

The desiring user wants something--a place, an event, a theme or idea. (superficial or in-depth)

The non-desiring user will ~play~ with the Visitor Interface to see its potentials. They are attracted by the allure of the space and the quality of system, curious where and to what it will lead them.

Both users are similar in that they find their way intuitively and easily to their desire whether they are aware of it or not.

This inherent pull or gravitational power is the heart of the USER SYSTEM. It is the power to pull people and events, things and information together around the individual need or desire in actual space/time.

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