[Usability] Desktop area arranger

[Toni Milovan <tmilovan efpu hr>]

Hi,

I have an usability issue that I would like to discuss, most of all I
need your opinion on usefulness of concept that I've been thinking
about.

I have been heavy desktop-area user since I started to use Gnome years
ago. I keep all my recent and open project files right there on the
desktop, not burried in different folders. I have found that this really
boosts my productivity and offers me a good review of my affairs anytime
just by looking at my desktop. Naturally there are some issues when you
have 50+ files on the desktop as I do, so I'd like to test with you a
concept that I've been dreaming about for some time. 

I guess there is no better place to talk about it then this list, but if
I'm on the wrong place please direct me elsewhere :)) 

Ok, lets go:

You can guess that "clean up by name" or "keep aligned" options are no
good for my situation, I arrange all my files and folders on the desktop
manually which can be tedious job sometimes. Long ago I have conluded
that probably the best way to solve this problem will be a little more
sophisticated desktop arranger tool. 

By running some tests I have found out that users can efficiently deal
with numerous files on desktop if desktop area is somehow separated into
zones. 

Simple test included the following setup:
- all launchers were removed from desktop into panel
- desktop was filled with files, folders, links and mounted media icons
sorted by type or by context
- desktop walpaper image suggested "zones" by using grids or lines to
separate different areas

Almost all users after some time testified that they feel more
comfortable with this setup, then they were with "clean up by name" or
"keep aligned" options and much less files.

However, as available screen resolution grows so grows the number of
files and manually sorting them becames a problem, especialy if you
rearranged them accidently. In my opinion this is easily solveable if we
can offer users a tool to designate different areas on destop for
different file types or contexts. 

Thats why I believe we need such tool.

Suggested concept is simple. For instance if user can divide desktop
into six zones and specify for example:
- all folders go to zone 1
- all links to zone 2
- all sxw or odt to zone 3
- all files that contains *customer* in the filename to zone 4
- etc. 

...and if this sorting works automaticaly when you bring the object to
the desktop, users can have tidy and logicaly sorted desktop without
having to position files manually. They can easily navigate, find and
use files that they need close by hand anyway.

This way IMHO we can more efficiently implement desk metaphor into
computer environment and ease user/computer interaction a little bit :))

Of ycourse I'm aware that there are many users that prefer to keep clean
desktop and all files tucked into folder structure, but there are also
many like me that like to clutter the desktop while working so I think
there is considerably wide user base that will find such tool valuable.

What I need you to tell me is the following: 

1. Am I completely out of my mind?
2. If not, what do you think about the idea, does it really contribute
to gnome usabilty?
3. Is it implementable at all?
4. Will it be worth the effort?

Ok, that's it, I hope I was comprehensible enough considering english is
not my primary language.

Sorry about lenghty mail.

Thanks.

Toni Milovan