I really enjoyed the talks[1] you gave at LGM 2009 (or I should say the videos of them as I didn't attend). The kinematics talk[2] was quite intriguing and I hope to see the concept incorporated into GIMP sometime in the future.

You are probably already familiar with it, but your usability lecture reminded of the UI Facades project (http://insitu.lri.fr/metisse/facades) which permits runtime rearrangement of GTK widgets and provides an extremely flexible framework for user adaptable interfaces. Some of their concepts might be of interest to your project.

Thanks for all of your efforts.

[1] http://river-valley.tv/ingimp-a-smorgasbord-of-usability-adaptive-uis-and-visually-arresting-graphic-design-for-2009/ and
[2] http://river-valley.tv/kinematic-templates/

----------------------------------------------- Quoting Michael Terry :

Hi all -

As part of our ongoing research focused on the usability of open source software, we are designing a new version of GIMP with an adaptable interface (we displayed some mock-ups at LGM this year). The new design is intended to allow users to customize the functionality of the GIMP interface to match their specific needs and tasks.

We are seeking feedback on our new designs. If you would like to provide feedback, please go to:

http://adaptablegimp.blogspot.com

This work is part of a research effort led by Michael Terry (mterry@cs.uwaterloo.ca) at the University of Waterloo. More information about the research and participation in the research can be obtained here:

http://www.ingimp.org/adaptable/study

(This project has been reviewed by, and received ethics clearance through, the Office of Research Ethics at the University of Waterloo.)

On Sat, May 30, 2009 at 17:15, Michael Terry wrote:

Hi all -

As part of our ongoing research focused on the usability of open source software, we are designing a new version of GIMP with an adaptable interface (we displayed some mock-ups at LGM this year). The new design is intended to allow users to customize the functionality of the GIMP interface to match their specific needs and tasks.

I like you work. The adaptable interface is interesting, but what I'm more interested in is to see your version of the pimped GPL license text.

Regards,
Tobias

saulg wrote:

The kinematics talk[2] was
quite intriguing and I hope to see the concept incorporated into GIMP sometime in the future.

Michael and I are looking into how to set up a cooperation to make this happen.

the integration of this principle in GIMP needs careful attention (based on the principles and usability facts that Michael's team uncovered), just piling another load of new stuff into GIMP just makes it bigger, not better.

I especially want to focus on supporting and inspiring the highest calibre of creative work and avoid that the impression may rise that all this is there to enable novices to handpaint their first square and circle.

--ps

founder + principal interaction architect man + machine interface works

http://mmiworks.net/blog : on interaction architecture