Windows
Very useful interface objects for
- distinguishing between different
applications
- within an application,
for distinguishing different types of information that is being conveyed to the
user or requested from the user
- for
interrupting users with warnings and confirmation requests
Guidelines:
- While tiled windows are more easy
for beginners to understand and manipulate, overlapping windows are far more flexible.
-
It is important to signal to the user which
window is on top and which window is below.
- Partial
occlusion already does a good job in this respect (text in windows should be surrounded
by whitespace that is at least one character broad).
- Additional
support through 3D effects (e.g., slanted edges, brighter and darker sides, shadows,
delayed expansion and shrinking)