Next generation operating systems
I was looking at Haystack today. It's an application attempts to make data applicationless.
"Nowadays users are forced to remember what program controls which kinds of information. In Haystack, users focus on their information, not the application. "
Thinking about it some more it reminded me of what I think the #1 feature of a desktop OS is: Copy and Paste. In the Windows world the IDataObject interface allows data to be transferred between applications independent of format. Technically it's a cool feature but yields huge gains for the user. I copy and paste things all day long: Urls, emails, files, pictures, etc.
I would love to see the next generations of OS's deliver ways to make data application less. I want to see what Haystack is doing and have it available from the OS. When I right click on an email I want to see a context menu appear with a dynamically created folder structure. I don't want to have to worry about where my files are at or which application I need to open them.
To get there the OS will need to become more intelligent. There will need to be more meta-data and less types.
(well that's my lunch hour "big idea" for the day...you all take care now)
