trinity-devel@lists.pearsoncomputing.net

Message: previous - next
Month: February 2016

Re: [trinity-devel] Visual facelifting proposals

From: Thomas Maus <thomas.maus@...>
Date: Mon, 29 Feb 2016 14:04:45 +0100
On Sunday 28 February 2016, 19:42 wrote Thomas Maus:
> On Friday 26 February 2016, 07:44 wrote E. Liddell:
> > What we really need for that sort of thing is probably Planet Trinity, to
> > encompass enough artwork to usefully fill out the categories without
> > supersizing the artwork packages.  I've considered that from time to time
> > (if only as a place to give users a clear list of what greeter, k3b, etc.
> > theme packages will work with the Trinity versions of those applications),
> > but I simply don't have the time to administer such a site.
> 
> au contraire, I'd prefer to have this functionality in the "tdepersonalizer"
> and control-center.
> In "tdepersonalizer" as a few preconfigured fine-tuned and consistent themes
> (introduced by screenshots) plus a choice tag preset for the
> control-center. In the control-center the tags act as a filter to visible
> icon/cursor sets etc.

On 2nd thought -- "au contraire" is plain wrong:
The following trinity would probably much better:

* On the Web-site extend the screenshot section to a " Desktops introduced" 
(optional sub-title: "unity in diversity" to keep up a Trinity aspect ;-)

This should not be pure eye-candy or screenshot, but an explanation of the 
complete desktop configuration choices, addressing the usage scenario, the 
focus of config and the resulting individual choices (either as structured or 
flowing text), based on individual experience. This is combined with a theme 
and some way to convey the settings not stored in themes (yet).

* In "tdepersonalizer" these introduced desktops should (later) be available 
choices, so that a user can preview and read about a desktop design on the 
Web-site, decide to try Trinity and then get exactly that desktop design in a 
streamlined process.

* In control-center users can explore the "configuration space", with the tag 
preset (initially) reducing and guiding through the configuration choices.


Here  an example text, how I would introduce my desktop:
---8<------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My desktop needs to support working for many hours per day in a complex and 
mentally taxing environment. My primary requirements thus are, that on one 
hand it must prevent RSI and other computer work related maladies and must be 
especially easy on my eyes, and on the other hand it must not be distractive 
but with visual cues must support the workflows, habits and reflexes acquired in 
three decades of X11 GUI use.

Avoiding mouse clicks helps me to avoid RSI symptoms, so menus open on mouse 
hover and window focus follows mouse. I need to use a lot of windows -- many 
terminal emulations -- and switch often between them. This goes well with the 
"B II" window style, which produces a staggered, tabbed appearance for the 
window titles, making it easy to switch windows with mouse hovers.
Active windows and other objects are highlighted in strong golden and red 
colors, to ease orientation on this dynamically changing desktop, and -- 
together with the informative terminal titlebars -- avoid desaster.

Icons, cursors, as well as text colors and fonts are choosen for good contrast 
and discernability.

Opposed to other window types, where I need to see the same colors as other 
people I'm communicating with, the background of the much-used terminal 
windows are black for several reasons: it is easier on the eyes (less retinol 
depletion), color codes of tools like "ls", "egrep", etc. are better visible

The colors were generally chosen to be "warm", and are intended to be used 
with a monitor set to "low color temperatures". The idea is to reduce the so-
called "blue light hazard", especially avoiding insomnia after late-night 
sessions -- it is working for me. The wallpaper might be abstract or a motive, 
but most of the time I choose a warm green color, because of their stress-
reducing effect.
---8<------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ciao,

ThoMaus