X graphics get a boost (NewsForge)

X graphics get a boost (NewsForge)

Posted Feb 10, 2006 3:11 UTC (Fri) by roelofs (subscriber, #2599)
In reply to: X graphics get a boost (NewsForge) by russell
Parent article: X graphics get a boost (NewsForge)

Does anyone have a use for translucent windows? They always get mentioned as a benefit, but for me, I can't think of a situation where it doesn't just make things worse by making more visual clutter. I do like the window scaling demo, that I will find useful.

Technically, I think "translucency" implies a certain level of diffusion (think greasy paper or typical shower-door coverings); what you're referring to is more properly called "partial transparency."

Regardless, I tend to agree, at least with respect to the usual kind of constant partial transparency. However, I could imagine that a terminal window that ranged from 60% transparent in blank areas to 100% opaque near text--with some smooth dropoff in between--could be handy for cases where you just need to become aware of some generally rare or slow-to-occur condition in an underlying window (e.g., syslog error or end of a long compile or end of commercials/FBI warning on TV/DVD). Time-varying transparency (i.e., that goes away while you're typing but slowly returns when you're not) might also be a useful option in some situations.

Then again, suitable window decorations (e.g., a barely exposed, skinny "acceleration meter" indicating scroll rate of an underlying window) or any of the more traditional visual alerts would probably be far more useful to most people.

It sure would be fun to be able to experiment with this stuff, though. Who knows what wackiness some geek might come up with, given the tools to do it easily?

Greg

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