http://brainstorm.ubuntu.com/item/20478/ However, to see exact measurements (instead of just graphs) you must wave your wand over a graph to display a tooltip (which is not real-time, forcing you to repeatedly move your cursor on and off of the graph) or open gnome-system-monitor (which covers your desktop).
I think there should be a way to see precise numerical stats without losing use of your mouse or opening a window.

[228 votes] Solution #1: Optionally, put numerical stats on top of the panel graphs.


[-9 votes] Solution #2: Show numbers beside graphs


[58 votes] Solution #3: Let User decide


[-14 votes] Solution #4: Display info in place of desktop picture.


]]> en-us Tue, 30 Jun 2009 23:17:02 +0000 Sat, 18 Jul 2009 09:08:57 +0000 QAPoll module http://brainstorm.ubuntu.com/idea/20478/ Fri, 03 Jul 2009 19:37:47 +0000 As far as putting the percentage beside the graph, the idea occurred to me. The only problem is that it takes more room, but it _would_ be easier to read. Would you like to make that an idea so folks can vote on it? Thanks :)]]> Fri, 03 Jul 2009 20:08:35 +0000 Fri, 03 Jul 2009 20:10:32 +0000 Thanks.]]> Fri, 03 Jul 2009 21:26:48 +0000 Sat, 04 Jul 2009 13:20:45 +0000 Relating to the progress bar.

In terms of intuitive graphic user perception the fact that graphical representations are thought of separately from numerical data presentation seems to get between the integration of the two in design terms. But I agree that this doesn't need to be the case at all.

The two CAN be integrated into a single graphic element which will communicate the finer points of both the intuitive and literal ends of the information to be presented to the user. This is a broad issue pertaining to the entire graphic and iconic paradigm/philosophy, not JUST an issue of this single example.

The real issue is that symbolic graphic elements are mostly semantically 1-dimensional, rather than semantically many dimensional (as they should be) with the number of semantic dimensions being directly dependent upon the number of axis of meaning which need to be communicated to the user by way of the graphical element.





There are many examples:

The progress bar, which steadily grows larger from left to right the space on the right of that might easily accommodate numerical progress, which would grow proportionately smaller. (2 semantic dimensions)

Extra dimensions of symbolism in the display of numerals may easily be communicated with elements of Size(of font), Color, and Opacity or perhaps back-shadow, etc. these are all potentially useful characteristics which might be used to convey extra dimensions of meaning in single icons.
While this notion might sound complex the implementation of a greater degree of attention to many dimensional semantic iconography would lead definitively to a squeaky clean and super intuitive desktop.

Icons would stop building up on the desktop, the ones that did would display relevant info about running applications as graphic elements, the need for mountains of notification applets would be reduced to by a massive margin and the ones that remained would communicate many dimensions of meaning simultaneously leaving it to the user to simply pay attention to the element he or she wished to refer to for whatever information is needed at that moment.


it's a huge issue.




]]> Wed, 15 Jul 2009 13:13:00 +0000
About your solution, I agree that the desktop is a very handy place to put a large amount of info. However, in a window-based interface, your desktop will be "occluded" ;-) most of the time and your stats will be hidden. For example, you're running an animation in Blender and want to see just how much stress it's putting on your CPU. You don't want to have to minimize Blender to see the usage % on the desktop. For this kind of situation, the panel is far more convenient.

So, in order to see precise stats at a glance, the panel seems to be the best place. (Although, if you're monitoring stats and have no need for a window to be up, the desktop is great)

isaacthulhu, you seem to have some very intricate ideas that probably should be considered, so I hope you will put the in a "problem" so they can be considered separately and in their entirety.

Once again, thanks for taking the time to post your solution, though I think that short-term improving the panel interface is the way to go.]]> Wed, 15 Jul 2009 17:51:12 +0000 Fri, 17 Jul 2009 18:44:48 +0000
Damn Small Linux has something that does this (though I think it's part of Fluxbox). There's a vertical, transparent panel on the right-hand side of the screen, which displays lots of data, and is covered by all windows.]]> Sat, 18 Jul 2009 09:08:57 +0000