I'm not digging the glasses, wearables; like wallets and watches.  I feel like, "I'm not a borg."  I do not need glass.

We are really treading on having this tech surgically implanted, and I find that spooky.

sharke
minimize confusion for people who were new to computers and might have trouble internalizing the concept of computer "folders" and digital "files." So you had little Manila folder icons etc. These days, it's less and less clear why skeuomorphism should exist. Most everyone has grown up with computers or at least used them for decades. We don't really need these mental crutches any more. 

Folders and files exist for the most basic reason... they are a great metaphor for the hierarchy system used to store stuff. You can use Shelves and Boxes I suppose. Some folks might prefer Mama duck and baby ducks.
 
The idea of depending on search and automated filing systems is ok if you have a small data set. As the data set grows, hierarchical systems are the time honored way to organize and access stored information. The file cabinet metaphor works well because file cabinet/shelf/locker subset, realized within a hierarchical storage model, is a time honored system that refers all the way back to the great libraries of the ancient ages.
 
The only thing that has changed is, that now, it is possible for some goof ball to come along every few months and pretend that Sherlock+ will replace hierarchical cognition. It is usually obvious that the goofball with that idea has never succeeded on a big project or in a big operation that is actually responsible for getting stuff done and keeping records of the work.
 
This is why you see conditions where many businesses and institutions remain on Windows XP... because none of the goofball ideas seem appealing when you think of a computer as a tool to accomplish work with rather than a toy to entertain.
 
You can see parallels to this with other tools. Take language for example; it's such an effective tool that it evolves slowly. We don't see rapid changeover because the old stuff works pretty well. We enjoy adding new fresh idioms but we do not abandon the old forms because the old forms work ok.
 
The concept that new is somehow better than what has worked for a couple thousand years is only a hundred or so years old.
 
Personally I think that the shock of the new as an *idea* has started to play out and lots of people are learning they are happy settling for what works.
 
 
The OP was about window dressing on a GUI but then somehow the ideas deviated into predictions that we will soon discard the metaphors that illustrate the hierarchical nature of a database which is based on "stuff" stored as subsets in "containers". It doesn't matter if you use a Cartesian model or something based on a more complex matrix. The metaphor of "stuff" in "containers" has proven too useful to be abandoned just because some people have never seen a file cabinet.
 
Besides which, we've been able to change our Folder icons to "mama duck" and our file icons to "baby duck" for about 20 years now and... to tell you the truth... so far... only a few people have done it.
 
Good times.
 
best regards,
mike
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Small businesses may be sort of, "stock on xp," but big business are buying tablets left and right.  The philosophy now is, "Let Amazon, Google, or Microsoft; build the data centers, buy all the hardware, and manage it.  Its far less expensive, than running our own datacenters and I.T. departments.  If we need to use computers in the office, "BYO Phone, or here you go, have a tablet." 

A lot of people are just plain faster at typing on a qwerty keyboard..   So that is why I think a lot of folk would still kinda, "hang on to the laptop as well."
 
Right now, voice interpretation still kind of sucks.  Sometimes I will send a text by voice, and its totally off a good 20% of the time.  That's unacceptable results for serious work.  
 
Actually one of my funnier voice 2 text, which was supposed to be something like, "I guess so buddy, but I'll see you later."  Turned into something like, "Whatever nanny, we got to work it better."
 
So obviously, if you are doing serious work, you are still far better off typing stuff out, and touch-screen qwerty is not as conducive to quick and accurate typing as it is on a plastic molded, "old school," omg, keyboard.
 
That's why I think the Surface is so slick, as its like a tablet, with an actual keyboard.  I just want to wait a couple of generations, before I dive in.  I want it to run music soft, as well as a desktop.
 
So, just in keeping with the thread.  I believe the Mac Pro's days are numbered.  Why should somebody buy one?  Even if you are the Pixar Department @ Walt Disney Studio's, can you not just use Virtual Machine's and Cloud Deployed Soft.
 
I suppose if you are adamant about controlling your intellectual property; - perhaps Disney is now a terrible example.   If you are "Hertz Rental Car."  You can do all your back office work with Virtual Machines, the occasional Laptop, an array of Tablets.  And obviously, all your employees have personal smartphones.
 
Its the world right now...
 
 
Cheers

 
I can't figure out if you are joking or not.
 
You just described my studio.
 
It's all 3d.
 
I even have a chair with wheels so I can scoootch over and grab stuff.
 
 
 
 
Of course, I am joking... but in a serious way. :-)
 
 

 
I really connected with your analogy that the screen should be a wall board metaphor.
 
The archetype of *Tom-Cruise-standing-in-the-GUI-hologram* has never appealed to me... but I hope it get's there for folks who want it.
 
My biggest ergo issue is that when I am fully engaged at my workstations or laptop that I never seem to have any place to keep paperwork. I never seem to have a comfortable place to write... so I don't write as many reminder notes as would be effective. I always end up thinking that we have ended up using more desk space than we ever did before.
 
I just got my first wireless keyboard... I think I'm already gravitating to your notion of display as wall board.
 
all the best,
mike
 
 

Don't get me wrong,  I don't want a minority report type interface.  Too much arm waving...  I'd spill my coffee.
 
I just want the "desk space" in my computer to be a 3D continuation of my real world desk/office,  but less messy, rather than two flat pannels with flat pictures stuck on them.

I know very little about Apple. I do know something about people and that is
when they are shown something and they go "WOW!" and have to have it then
it will sell.
I sure didn't go "wow".
 
I think Cake could benefit from paying attention here....but what do I know?
 
I do know this:
The PC and Cake have one more chance. The next move they make with "X" had best
be right. I'm at the same state with PC's. I recently bought my last one for my personal use.
The combination has one more shot with me to get it right. If it is right and I can continue for
the minimum expected life of 3 years (what most feel is the life of a PC) or more, then my state
may change. If it fails before that duration it will be the last time.
 
Whether or not making a change due to being tired of the issues will end the troubles isn't at the
heart of the matter. What is, is that I would feel a fool to continue working with equipment that
has left me totally disatisfied so many times. A change must take place so I will change everything.
 
 
 
 
 

"What didn't you understand"
 
I didn't understand how you could contradict yourself by asking me to abstain from taking part in a public thread titled "LOOK AT ME...".
 
It's similar to the present contradiction where you ask me to answer a question while advising me to stay away.
 
I have over estimated your ability to field disagreement.
 
 
 
best regards,
mike

mike_mccue
"What didn't you understand"
 
I didn't understand how you could contradict yourself by asking me to abstain from taking part in a public thread titled "LOOK AT ME...".
 
It's similar to the present contradiction where you ask me to answer a question while advising me to stay away.
 
I have over estimated your ability to field disagreement.
 
 
 
best regards,
mike

1st: I did not contradict myself. This is not the thread I started about the robbery - in which I asked you not to bother talking to me and that your remarks weren't welcome.  Anyone is free to contribute and most opinions are welcome, until someone starts w/ the negative remarks and tries to look clever. Do you really not understand why people hate to be insulted? (That's a rethorical question, by the way.)
 
2nd: You "Roger'ed" that. But you keep on going. Even in this thread. 
 
3rd: The only thing you ever overestimate is your arrogant self, people's need to be galvanized w/ your absurd remarks on these boards and the goodwill of the folks around here. 
 
Either you're socially clueless, either you wanted to rub me the wrong way. At any rate, it makes you a very unpleasant character, so, please, stay away.