My apologies for not posting for the two weeks after committing myself to posting more often. It seems a little hypocritical of me. But, I have been somewhat involved with a few projects. One of which is close to fruition and the other will bear fruit once a new pack of fertilizer arrives. The first project I promised to show you back in October. I went back on my promise though, deciding it was more important to complete the thing first. But! I’m close enough to completion that you can wet your appetites again. I should have pictures and information by the end of April. I’ll consider discussing my other, more recent projects – depending on how much I can de-personal-information-ify them (remember, I’m a random high school senior, sentient being in the Orion Arm blogging on the Galactic Net). Anyways, on to the subject of today’s brief post!
The Second Life Client (or, viewer) has evolved over the past few months and, with it, its UI has changed as well. I like most of the changes, I especially like the “purely aesthetic change” of Windlight. Though, their has been much criticism of recent viewers. I’ve been pretty satisfied, its beautiful though it freezes and hangs up. I, however, will offer one bit of criticism: The client’s UI needs to be redesigned. Its pretty easy to use once you get used to Second Life and the UI. On the other hand, it can have a pretty large learning curve, presents a little too much information, and is somewhat obtrusive. A simpler UI would be better.
What follows is a proposal.
Log-In Screen
UI (Showing two different color schemes):
Well, I’d like to propose a redesign of the UI, to simply the default options available. The initial proposal:
New Log-In Screen:
UI proposal
These images aren’t ‘real’ – I have not actually built a custom client for SL. They are mere photoshops intended to propose ideas. Further, its incomplete. I haven’t show functionality yet for certain aspects of current UI. But, I hope it conveys the general sense of what I tried to do:
- I attempted to decrease the total area of the screen consumed by the UI in its basic/default mode.
- I reduced the numebr of functions on display at once and relocated some functions.
- I used images and pictures rather than words to convey meaning/intent:
- Chat Bubble – Chat, IM, communicate
- People ( they are people!) – groups and contacts
- Folder – Inventory
- Textbox – text field for chat
- Expand button – Chat history
- Globe – Map
- Map – Mini Map (This and the globe are difficult as one can convey the same thing (map) in different ways for two different functions, confusing the user).
- I got rid of the Menu Bar, minimize (the more appropriate word slips my mind) it to a menu button.
- Build menu will be integrated into right-click menus
- Media settings – I should probably add a button for that.
- Fly – Press ‘F’ or ‘Page Up’ to fly, as already happens
- Snapshot – Check Menu > File
- User Info and search I need to bring back in
The idea itself is a bit of a work in progress. I might follow up with updates to the proposal.
Now, back to your regularly scheduled programs, the Democratic Brawl, and a test on a “war” ending just about when I was born.
