4 ms·

> three-dimensionally I had actually never put it into words before now, but that makes a lot of sense, and it actually accurately describes how I see my scree

by oAlbe 5y ago

> three-dimensionally I had actually never put it into words before now, but that makes a lot of sense, and it actually accurately describes how I see my screen. To me, the OS taskbar is "higher" (as in, closer to me) than the application window title bar, which in turn is higher than whatever controls are in the application itself (think Firefox back and forward buttons, URL bar, setting menu etc), which is itself higher than whatever website it is currently loaded. And even more than this, my brain perceives the website to be "deeper" inside the screen than anything else. Even right now typing this, the text area to me is "dug" inside the HN, making HN feel closer to my eyes than the texarea for the reply. I wonder if that's experienced by others as well.

azernik 5y ago
Huh. I have that experience, but in reverse. More "specific" or application/context-specific UI elements feel "closer" to me, while browser chrome is farther in the background, and OS all the way in the back. I believe that's the visual paradigm most graphical OS's going back to the '90s used.
- panda88888 5y ago
  Yup, the desktop metaphor. Basically the computer screen is like a desk, and each application is a paper/document on the desk that can lay on top of one another. Mouse cursor is more or less your finger/hand to interact with the “documents”.
MauranKilom 5y ago
Well, user interfaces used to be styled to look 3D: https://pics.computerbase.de/5/7/4/1/0/1-1080.130195173.jpg https://pics.computerbase.de/5/7/4/1/0/1-1080.130195173.jpg https://i1.wp.com/www.thespinningdonut.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/vista_start_menu_1024x768.jpg https://i1.wp.com/www.thespinningdonut.com/wp-content/upload... Everything had bevels (XP) and/or shading (Vista) that evoked a 3D appearance. Buttons are extruded (and appear to physically move down when pushed), menus overlay each other, text boxes are "inset". Nowadays though... it is apparently a cardinal sin to even make clickable things appear clickable. Looking at you, Windows/Office!
- andai 5y ago
  Today I used an exercise machine at the gym for the first time and noticed the buttons: their design was Web 2.0! Flat buttons but with stickers, and the stickers have these glossy cartoon buttons printed on them. The machines were fairly recent and I wondered if the design was intentional (more buttonlike than flat labels) or if they just hadn't bothered to update them in a while. As a side note I found it comical that they're using computer UI-styled buttons printed onto actual paper on a physical machine instead of "real" push buttons, but I guess it's a cost-saving thing.

by oAlbe 5y ago

azernik 5y ago

Huh. I have that experience, but in reverse. More "specific" or application/context-specific UI elements feel "closer" to me, while browser chrome is farther in the background, and OS all the way in the back. I believe that's the visual paradigm most graphical OS's going back to the '90s used.

panda88888 5y ago
Yup, the desktop metaphor. Basically the computer screen is like a desk, and each application is a paper/document on the desk that can lay on top of one another. Mouse cursor is more or less your finger/hand to interact with the “documents”.

MauranKilom 5y ago

Well, user interfaces used to be styled to look 3D: https://pics.computerbase.de/5/7/4/1/0/1-1080.130195173.jpg https://pics.computerbase.de/5/7/4/1/0/1-1080.130195173.jpg https://i1.wp.com/www.thespinningdonut.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/vista_start_menu_1024x768.jpg https://i1.wp.com/www.thespinningdonut.com/wp-content/upload... Everything had bevels (XP) and/or shading (Vista) that evoked a 3D appearance. Buttons are extruded (and appear to physically move down when pushed), menus overlay each other, text boxes are "inset". Nowadays though... it is apparently a cardinal sin to even make clickable things appear clickable. Looking at you, Windows/Office!

andai 5y ago
Today I used an exercise machine at the gym for the first time and noticed the buttons: their design was Web 2.0! Flat buttons but with stickers, and the stickers have these glossy cartoon buttons printed on them. The machines were fairly recent and I wondered if the design was intentional (more buttonlike than flat labels) or if they just hadn't bothered to update them in a while. As a side note I found it comical that they're using computer UI-styled buttons printed onto actual paper on a physical machine instead of "real" push buttons, but I guess it's a cost-saving thing.