User Experience/Projects/NonModalMessageSystem
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Non Modal Message System
Current versions of OpenOffice.org use modal dialogs to give feedback in many situations. This interrupts users every time such a dialog is shown. Most of these messages are not that important, but it is no option to stop giving feedback. Furthermore new features, like sharing documents with others need a kind of message system to broadcast collaboration information. Giving feedback needs to be accessible, so it is not sufficient to show a message text somewhere in a dialog or just to change the color of a control. Those text and color changes will not be read by AT tools.
Work in Progress.
Message Types and Visualization Styles
Note: Visual representation (colors, design, icons) of the following is subject to change.
Types
- Information
- Warning
- Question
Visualization Style 1
Every time the message is not directly triggered by the user (i.e collaboration messages) the following message type is being used.
Small (preferred visualization)
- Messages could disappear automatically after a configurable time. The 'Close' button then shows a text '(n)'..'(0)'. The message will be hidden if the counter reaches 0.
Visualization Style 2a
Temporary messages in context: Information is only of interest in a special context. I.e. feedback when searching the document. Message disappears automatically.
Alternatively those contextual information could be shown as style 1 message. In this case the message has a timer, so it will automatically disappear.
Contextual Message
This visualization can be used in text or on an object. If not focused and mouse is not near the context, the visual hint is minimal.
If focused/cursor near context, the following icon is faded in:
On click a contextual menu is opened. Info icon turned into closer, so that menu could be closed without moving the mouse.
Message Center
Message Center in Start Center (early draft)
Mock-up will follow.
Message Center in Side Pane (early draft)
Message could also be shown inside the StartCenter, beside templates and recent documents.
References
Christoph Noack
DirectManipulationSnippets Direct Manipulation Snippets
ContextualInformation