Talk:Zooming user interface

History of Zooming User Interfaces

I made a compilation of the History of Zooming User Interfaces:
http://zbalai.com/zuiwiki/index.php?title=Zooming_User_Interface_History
What do you advise regarding this content?

1. Post it as a link in the main article?
2. Create a Wikipedia article called history of user interfaces?
3. Refine and shorten it and put it into the main ZUI article?

Zbalai (talk) 10:09, 21 October 2013 (UTC) Answers below pls:

• If you have references for all the documents you used to compile that history, IMO the best option would be #3 (which would release your content under the CC-SA license). The first option is not viable, as your site is a self-published source and not valid as a Wikipedia reference. The second option (a separate article for the history of the ZUI) would also work, although that would make the "detail" article longer than the "main" one. :-) Diego (talk) 11:55, 21 October 2013 (UTC)

Euros

What are Euros the new SI unit of currency? Gimme a break.. Microsoft, Apple, RedHat, Sun, Novell grok $$'s... Unsigned by 198.11.22.244. (AlistairMcMillan 23:55, 23 August 2005 (UTC))

Euros are the currency of Europe.

Europe is now the biggest single market for Microsoft, Apple, Red Hat, Sun, etc. It is also the birthplace of Linus Torvalds and of GNU-Linux, which was assembled from contributions sent from all over the world (not just the US and Europe)when he was a student in Finland.

If you estimate that other major currencies are also important, then add them! AlainV 04:00, 30 Jun 2004 (UTC)

Seems a bit crazy to me though, should we include Yen and British pounds too? I'm sure money comes from these countries too. Seems to me that just putting dollars makes the article read better... User:mattsday

"Read better", you mean for Americans? what about for everyone else? and I would also like to point out that America isn't the only country that calls their currency dollars. --Wafflemou 08:13, 4 September 2007 (UTC)

Bi-Dimensional?

Are ZUIs inherently bi-dimensional? I've removed the phrase "The computer game Black & White was noted for employing a ZUI as a means of navigating the in-game island scenery." because in this game the overall metaphor is not one of an infinite plane of information with objects represented at different levels of scale and detail, but one of navigating through a 3D environment. What are the limits of what is considered a ZUI in the academic world from which it originates? Diego Moya 11:09, 19 September 2005 (UTC)

Exposé

Would OSX's Exposé count as a minimal implementation of a ZUI? -- Jeff 21:40, 8 November 2005 (UTC)

I would say no. Exposé uses a zooming effect, but is not what I would consider a full-fledged ZUI. For example, it's more of a way to view other user interfaces (which aren't ZUIs), rather than an interface in itself. And besides that, you can't zoom in degrees. You either get the big picture at the top level, or the normal view. --Dan 18:47, 25 March 2006 (UTC)

I agree, Exposé does not seem to meet the requirements for a ZUI. Gwernol 19:02, 25 March 2006 (UTC)

BTW it's an interesting phenomenon to observe that the combination of Exposé (zoom out) and Quickview (zoom in) sort of converges towards the originial ZUI idea. It's still not a true ZUI, however. Andreas Schuderer (talk) 08:26, 15 December 2008 (UTC)

Zoomspace

Does anyone else feel that the Zoomspace paragraph feels a little too much like an advertisment? For example, this part: "supports industry templates such as comics, corporate, e-commerce, games, magazines, zoom-media-browser™, photo browsing, PIM zoomtop™, homeland security, and travel/maps, thus demonstrating the wide applicability of ZUIs" --Dan 18:39, 25 March 2006 (UTC)

Definitely. I nearly changed this when doing a recent sweep through the article, but decided that someone with more knowledge of this space needed to do it. I'd say be bold and go ahead and clean it up. Gwernol 19:03, 25 March 2006 (UTC)

It is definitely an ad. Removed everything past the first sentence of that paragraph. Moreover, the website is inaccessible so it may be appropriate to remove the broken external link to the company.

Link works. Role of MIT Media Lab, GeoPhoenix, Sony, Orbanes, Guzman, and Miura w/ ZUIs verified + acknowleged.

Spam?

What?! Why did Gwernol remove the link to vsxu.com? That's not spam. It's a link to a piece of software that uses a ZUI. In what way is that different from all the other links to software that uses ZUI? This article is about ZUI and ZUI software, isn't it? Ion seal 09:45, 9 August 2006 (UTC)

Link spam

I don't think "3D file browsers" are zooming interfaces at all, and some of the links are for commercial products. Should I just remove them? --Foofy 17:01, 9 December 2006 (UTC)

04-04-07 These links are the most complete collection of references to "Zooming User Interfaces" on the net. In that ZUI's are all about visualization of information, even commercial attempts at implementation are very important to interested parties. So, no... please do not remove the links. thanks. second that HeikoHaller (talk) 12:28, 9 December 2010 (UTC)

Sorting the Links

I cannot see the difference between the current two sections of links what makes the difference between "ZUI Projects" and "Other Examples"? Can someone explain this? Otherwise I would suggest the following Sections instead:

• Frameworks/Toolkits for building ZUIs
• ZUI Applications

maybe ZUI Applications could be further structured in

• Native ZUI Applications (where Zooming is a fundamental part of the paradigm)
• Other Applications Using Zoom Functionalities

or according to the distinction included in the source code "Please include only projects that support zooming to show hyperlinked information. Other "zoomable" interfaces are usually not considered ZUIs - they don't follow the academic definition." (while it might be an interesting distinction, I don't see why a zooming tool for unlinked data should not be considered a ZUI)

What dou you think? HeikoHaller (talk) 12:29, 9 December 2010 (UTC)

ZUI goes beyond a "magnifying glass". For an interface to qualify as a ZUI, various levels of information must appear at different zoom levels - not just the same information but bigger.

Otherwise, every application out there with a zoom function would be a ZUI (MS Word, text editors with configurable font size, screen magnifiers for accesibility, SVG images... If all elements that can be changed in size are ZUIs, the term becomes almost meaningless. But ZUI has a relatively precise meaning which relates zooming with navigation. I think this is a good criterium that we can use to assess which applications should go in the list. For example Google Earth would qualify, but the zooming browsers in iPhone's Safari or Wii's Opera would not. Diego Moya (talk) 15:37, 9 December 2010 (UTC)

Pleasantly surprised

I followed the link from iPhone, expecting to find a new stub. Instead, this looks to be a well-researched (if short) article with quite a history. Nice work! -- Kesh 01:37, 13 January 2007 (UTC)

Virtual Desktop

virtual desktop should be removed completely! it is not a kind of ZUI. furthermore, the section subtitle refers to the coming "full implementation". As a subcategory of GUI, the ZUI is a kind of application; the ZUI is not an application and thus can not be implemented at all. the section is off topic and poorly written from start to finish. and finally, to the anonymous author of the section, i ask you this: is "alt+tab" a function or an application? i think it is a feature of the application called Explorer -- simply neither. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 65.34.155.184 (talk) 07:09, 12 April 2007 (UTC).

That is incorrect, there are many similarities between virtual desktops and ZUIs, the expo plugin for compiz-fusion is a great example, look at this clip on youtube, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXF-zlcei20&mode=related&search=

--Wafflemou 08:08, 4 September 2007 (UTC)

Yes & No... the mention of Virtual Desktops (wiki linked) and the reasoning is perfectly valid. Listing virtual desktop implementations should not be in this article. Osndok (talk) 19:26, 13 October 2008 (UTC)

I agree with Osndok. I would also remove the listing to virtual desktop implementations. Zbalai 23:27, 21 November 2011 (CET)

iPhone

I am not convinced that the iPhone uses a ZUI, it just looks like it uses a zooming animation for its interface. And I can name many occurrences that a zooming animation is used in other things. --Wafflemou 08:16, 4 September 2007 (UTC)

As of iOS7 it looks like Apple is moving much more towards a fully realised zoomable interface. I have updated this section accordingly. Erik Veland (talk) 06:11, 10 July 2013 (UTC)

Redirect

Searching for ZUI doesn't bring up this page and the article that it directs to (Showtaro Morikubo) lacks a link to this page under the "redirected from" text. Thus if you want to search for this article, you must know the already know what ZUI stands for (most people wouldn't).

--Maikeru Go (talk) 14:26, 26 November 2007 (UTC)

Jef Raskin's The Humane Interface, aka "Archy"

Should be mentioned, as a very early example of ZUI. See here for the demo, and elsewhere on that site for more information. -- 207.233.32.18 (talk) 23:27, 18 March 2008 (UTC) (really, User:JesseW/not logged in (but not all the edits from this IP are me))

I agree, Jef Raskin was one of the first to stress the importance of this type of UI. - ZBALAI Nov 2011

Deleted links

Rescuing the deleted list of external links with a compilation of "Zoomable User Interface" examples and information. There are some items in there that are notable (e.g. Piccolo, Dasher) and should be redacted into the article. Diego Moya (talk) 22:48, 13 May 2011 (UTC)

ZUI projects

Eagle Mode’s file manager displaying plain text source code directories

• AHEAD: Online Zooming Web Space Builder for Creative Minds - in Flash. Works like an online DTP tool.
• AJAX-ZOOM: An image zoom & pan gallery based on jQuery and PHP. 360° object zoom & pan.
• iMapping: A visual knowledge mapping tool for personal knowledge management using semantic technologies.
• AutoBAHN: A browser companion using Jazz.
• BlueBottle/Aos Bluebottle OS: A version of Native Oberon and has a zooming user interface.
• Eagle Mode: A ZUI framework with plugin applications.
• Magic Touch: A zoom and pan tool in Flash and JavaScript. Automatically fetches, slices and serves images.
• mjoo
• MooZUI: A ZUI plugin for Mootools
• OpenZoom: A toolkit for Adobe Flash (including utilities and documentation) for creating high-resolution images and ZUI on the Web.
• Pad++: A defunct tool kit for developing ZUI applications
• Piccolo (formerly Jazz): ZUI toolkit for Java and C# (no longer actively maintained).
• Piccolo2D: is Piccolo's successor.
• Seadragon: A technology used in Microsoft's Photosynth
• ZoomDesk: An experimental zooming desktop.
• Zoomable visual transformation: ZUI toolkit for Java.
• ZenZui: A ZUI for mobile devices
• Zoomorama: A ZUI for collage of high-resolution images (fefunct)
• Zoom-Tube: Browse YouTube videos by zooming
• Prezi Zooming presentation editor in Flash
• ClosR.it Zooming user interface for sharing high-resolution images
• SpaceNet 2D/3D Zooming (Fractal) GUI System (Java)
• IIPImage Open source ZUI and imaging server for streaming high resolution images on the web (C++/Javascript/Flex/Flash/Java)
• Zoomooz.js A Javascript/CSS based library for zooming to web page elements.
• ZOOMCREATOR.COM aka ZOOMCREATOR A portal for zoom images and everything digital.

Other examples

• ChronoZoom is a timeline for Big History being developed for the International Big History Association by Microsoft Research and University of California, Berkeley
• Pangeo is a ZUI for Panoramio.com images.
• KidZui uses a Zooming User Interface paradigm to make browsing easier for children.
• tandem Zoomable User Interface for Flickr built with the OpenZoom SDK
• zoomism.com Zoomable website from bevodesign.com
• PhotoMesa Zooming photo browser.
• The "Zoomer" A ZUI coded in Flash that uses content from independent servers. Written by David Matthews.
• ZUI Prototype A ZUI prototype using .NET Framework.
• Google Maps Zoomable world map with integrated search.
• Google Earth Zoomable world.
• GeoGarage Spatial image web server
• 3D Topicscape 3D concept mapping software for organizing information.
• 3D-Space VFS Zoomable 3d file browser for Mac OS X.
• 3dosx Another zoomable file browser for Mac OS X.
• Tactile 3D A zoomable file browser for Microsoft Windows.
• OpenTV ZUI EPG Television Electronic Program Guide from OpenTV using ZUI.
• The Dasher Project A zooming interface for text insertion.
• Nintendo Wii Wii gaming console includes a zooming interface; especially for its Opera Web Browser.
• Opera Mini Opera Mini mobile browser is an example of ZUI concept .
• iPhone A handheld zooming interface in a commercial device
• ZDESKTOP and FILEMAGE Zoomable File-System Viewers. Written in Java, based on Piccolo Toolkit. Nothing to install. Run under any operating system.
• PositLog A zoomable CMS implemented by Ajax.
• Enhanced Zoom Desktop for Compiz (can be used with Shelf for a full ZUI)
• Cognika XI - A ZUI platform for mobile devices.
• raskinformac.com Raskin is a zoomable file browser for Mac OS X based on Zoomworld
• The beercamp.com website used a ZUI to advertise a public event.

Resources

• Zooming Group Community for folks interested in zooming interfaces and technologies.
• ZOOMCREATOR | PORTAL | VRML TO PHOTOGRAPHY - VR ZOOM IMAGES A VRML to Photography Portal with links to zoom image hosting ,zoom technologies and more.

Please do so. I removed all of them because the list was too long and getting borderline spammy, but I'm sure some good ones were there that should be restored. But try to keep the number down (and make sure they are mentioned in the article text -- they should be if they're notable enough, anyway). Cheers, Waldir ^talk 21:14, 23 May 2011 (UTC)

Removed and PRESERVEd

I'm removing the whole section, as it keeps attracting ELNO links. I'll try to think of a way to restore the few encyclopedic links that describe the relevant ZUI projects. Diego (talk) 12:21, 18 July 2016 (UTC)

Eagle Mode’s file manager displaying plain text source code directories

• Ziteboard a cross-platform, web-based zoomable online whiteboard with realtime collaboration for visual communication and distance education.
• Deon Join: A cross-platform zoomable desktop for Windows and Mac OS X with realtime collaboration features over IP networks.
• Eagle Mode: Zoomable file manager.
• BigPicture: Infinitely large and infinitely zoomable notepad.
• Zoomooz: A library for making web pages zoom.
• 3D Topicscape: 3D concept mapping software for organizing information.
• Dasher: A zooming interface for text insertion.
• fsn: File System Navigator, a pseudo-3D file manager that appeared in the movie Jurassic Park in 1993.
• Google Maps, OpenStreetMap and others: Web-based zoomable world maps.
• Google Earth: Zoomable globe.
• ChronoZoom: Web-based zoomable timeline.
• Gigapan: Zoomable gigapixel images.
• Prezi: Online zooming presentation editor made with Adobe Air.
• OneZoom interactive guide to the evolutionary relationships between all life on earth using tree of life visualization.
• ClipFlair Studio: Foreign Language Learning through Interactive Revoicing & Captioning of Clips, made with Silverlight. Zoomable UI (both components and activities), Nested Activities (Zooming portals), Supports DeepZoom Images and Collections in Image component, Gallery component uses Microsoft PivotViewer with DeepZoom image tiles. (http://studio.clipflair.net)
• Seadragon Software: A technology used in Microsoft's Photosynth.
• Disk space analyzers:
  • showing the top-level directory as a rectangle containing the subdirectories as smaller rectangles packed inside;
  • showing levels as circles with the topmost level in the center.
• Velom: A zoomable desktop.
• Realtimeboard: A web based collaborative sketch pad and whiteboard.
• ZVTM: a zoomable user interface toolkit in Java, that also works on cluster-driven wall-sized displays

References

More links

• ZVTM: ZUI toolkit for Java developed at INRIA.

• Story Turbo: Creativity app, has zooming interface, unlimited canvas, multiple editors, made with Java.

• ClipFlair Studio: part of OpenSource Silverlight-based platform of ClipFlair project (Foreign Language Learning through Interactive Captioning and Revoicing of Clips) uses a ZUI container of zoomable floating windows (FloatingWindowHostZUI), supports nested activities (separate zooming portals), its Image component can zoom classic images but also DeepZoom images and collections, its Gallery component can host CXML (Collection XML) metadata with DeepZoom image tiles, its Map component shows zoomable Bing maps. Direct URL: http://studio.clipflair.net

Zooming Window Manager

Should Zooming window manager redirect here? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 70.247.163.191 (talk) 19:11, 18 June 2016 (UTC)