Canonical Designer Demos Ubuntu Context-Aware UI

Blacklaw writes "Canonical's Christian Giordano has posted details of what he believes could be the future of user interface design in Ubuntu — a system that detects physical context. Designed to be paired with a webcam or other sensor system, the concept is that the computer is able to detect where a user is in proximity to the display along with an idea of roughly what he or she might be doing. Using this information, the operating system — in this case, Ubuntu Linux — can automatically make changes to the screen layout. For example, when the system detects that the user has leaned back in his or her chair, the system automatically makes the currently playing video full-screen. Lean forward again, and the video returns to its previous windowed mode."

Porn

[Anonymous Coward]

So if the computer sees me with a box of tissues and some lube it will start up youporn?

I don't want a jealous computer...

[Drakkenmensch]

... that yells "Pay attention!" every time it detects my eyes focusing on my television rather than its monitor!

Interesting...

[Anonymous Coward]

So if I dangle my Special Purpose in front of my webcam, will it boot me into Damn Small Linux?

Re:Interesting...

[Hinhule]

I think it'll launch chatroulette.

80's song?

[natehoy]

I always feel like... Ubuntu's watching me!

Someone needs to contact Google, they'll provide a shitload of funding for something like this, as long as they can get some of the images to run through some sort of facial expression analysis.

Not only will they know the sites you are visiting, but they'll get an idea of how interested you are in each individual product you see, and whether you glance at their ads.

Re:Why not link the source?

[OzPeter]

Why does the summary not link the actual blog post at canonical.com instead of some ad-encumbered summary?

Because then the submitter wouldn't get his cut?

oh oh...

[polle404]

shutdown -h now

"...I'm afraid i can't let you do that, Dave..."

Re:Consitancy

[natehoy]

glares at MS Word

Now, thanks to this new technology, Clippy can appear and say "It looks like I'm pissing you off! What can I do to help?"

Then your reaction might cause Clippy to dial 9-1-1 (or the local equivalent for non-US versions) for you so an ambulance can be on the way already to deal with the aneurysm you are about to have in 3... 2...

But when you pass out and your nose lands on the "F" key, he'll turn off autorepeat for you so if you survive the experience your document will be waiting for you when you get back from the hospital. Maybe not so much in the American version, here he'll just check your insurance status and put your car and house up on eBay so you can afford the downpayment on your medical bills.

Great

[iONiUM]

Now I can just start jerking off and it'll show me porn, instead of me having to find the porn first.

Thanks, auto-detect camera.

Re:Porn

[ray-auch]

More importantly, will it minimise the porn window when the wife enters the room behind you ?

Re:Consitancy

[natehoy]

They'll announce it a few years from now, codename "Terrifying Tantalus"

How generous!

[BigBadBus]

"For example, when the system detects that the user has leaned back in his or her chair, the system automatically makes the currently playing video full-screen. Lean forward again, and the video returns to its previous windowed mode." Does it also provide a barf bag in this sea-sickness inducing mode?

Re:Porn

[somersault]

Or if your head suddenly twitches like mine always does when a manager walks in and I realise I'm doing sod all work.

Re:Porn

[Anonymous Coward]

>More importantly, will it minimise the porn window when the wife enters the room behind you ?

Wife/SO: "That's it, I'm leaving. Masturbating to porn I could handle, but to Slashdot?!?"

Re:So now the computer starts looking at me?

[beh]

Well - at least the hostname abyss looks appropriate now:

When you look into the abyss, the abyss will also look at you...

Re:Consitancy

[cparker15]

9-1-1 (or the local equivalent for non-US versions)

I think you mean 0118 999 881 999 119 725 3, you berk!

Re:Hmm

[Compaqt]

First they messed up sound with PulseAudio, but I did not say anything because I killall'd it in cron.

Then they came for my window control menus, but I did not say anything because I gconf'd it.

Now they have come for my gnome-terminal replacing it with HAL, and there's no one left to speak for me.

Re:what happens...

[Kristopeit,MichaelDa]

can't let it be, can you, coward?

i never said anything about feces or bestiality. someone else, likely you, pathetically and cowardly registered a username in my given name's likeness and attempted to hijack my identity and disrespect my wife.

you are a coward.

if you present yourself, and admit to these actions, i will kill you. this is a simple fact i'm sure you're aware of. i'm not a gun nut... i'm a man with a gun and a disrespected wife, hunting a coward.

is this still the guy i got expelled from college? bitter about that child porn i reported to the dean that was on your student file server account? you've moved on to fantasizing about bestiality?

you are NOTHING

Re:Hmm

[Ukab the Great]

And then you win.

Re:Great idea!

[srh2o]

Yawn. I can send my customers to buy a copy of Windows 7 only to find some of their existing hardware doesn't work with it. Yet the probability is high that it will work with Linux. When Vista had much publicized driver issues, all you guys were saying, "It's not MS's fault, it's the hardware manufacturers." The troll would be so much more effective if you stay consistent and a little less obvious. Another way to not be perceived as a troll is quit pretending that the internet doesn't exist on a troll of an internet forum. Two trips to the B&M indeed.

Re:Porn

[allo]

yeah, you got a point.

*hugs your girlfriend*