Among the host of patent applications released today shines a gem above the rest, a 54 page filing divulging research conducted in 2007 that displays a “Multidimensional” or true 3D desktop user interface.
Macrumors reports that one in the series of these patents, dubbed Multidimensional Desktop, contains diagrams that reveal how the desktop may look and function. The figure below, shows the multidimensional environment, which as you can see depicts what appears to be 3 dimensional depth. Along the sides of the desktop lie “function” icons that could prompt commands on each surface. These icons are also believed to be able to receive 3D manipulation, allowing them to “fall” if displaced.
The image below displays how a window can be dragged across the multiple 3 dimensional surfaces, which can trigger icons or windows to display different information. “For example, on the bottom surface, icons and other system object representations can be displayed according to a large scale; on the side surface, icons and system object representations can be displayed according to small scale; on the back surface, icons and other system object representations can be displayed in a list format.”
An additional example shows a 3D Finder that lacks a traditional surface, instead utilizing a stack item to access menu items, typically found at the top of the desktop. When a menu item is selected it could place menu items on a variety of surfaces.
Macrumors maintains that it is still unclear when or if Apple will ever apply these concepts to future versions of Mac OS X, as 10.6, due to arrive in Q1 of 2009 has focused primarily on “under the hood” performance.
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