Time2Hide: spatial searches and clutter alleviation for the desktop

Authors:
George Lepouras;Aggelos Papatriantafyllou;Akrivi Katifori;Alan Dix
Affiliations:
University of Peloponnese, Tripolis, Greece;University of Peloponnese, Tripolis, Greece;University of Athens, Panepistimioupolis, Ilissia, Athens, Greece;Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK
Venue:
AVI '08 Proceedings of the working conference on Advanced visual interfaces
Year:
2008

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Abstract

With information abundance the user's desktop is often cluttered with files and folders. Existing tools partially address the clutter problem. Time2Hide enhances desktop functionality by allowing icons that are not used for a long time to gradually fade and merge with the background. This aims to alleviate the problem of icon clutter. Users can also perform spatial searches, defining areas of the desktop they wish to search for icons; can reveal one or more hidden files or can go back in time animating the desktop and its changes. With Time2Hide users can still use the desktop as a place for storing files and folders, without worrying about the possible clutter and without being afraid that the files might be moved to an unknown location. The new desktop has been implemented and evaluated. Evaluation results reveal that such an enhanced desktop can significantly support users and propose suggestions for further improvements.