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Most developers are familiar with the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desktop_metaphor desktop metaphor] that dominates the modern-day computer experience. This metaphor has evolved over the past 30 years, giving rise to distinct classes of interface elements that we expect to find in every OS: desktop, icons, files, folders, windows, etc. While this metaphor makes sense at the office—and perhaps even at home—it does not translate well into a collaborative environment such as the one that the OLPC laptops will embody. Therefore, we have adopted a new set of metaphors that emphasize community. While there are some correlations between the Sugar UI and those of traditional desktops, there are also clear distinctions. It is these distinctions that are the subject of the remainder of this section. We highlight the reasoning behind our shift in perspective and detail functionality with respect to the overall laptop experience.

Most developers are familiar with the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desktop_metaphor desktop metaphor] that dominates the modern-day computer experience. This metaphor has evolved over the past 30 years, giving rise to distinct classes of interface elements that we expect to find in every OS: desktop, icons, files, folders, windows, etc. While this metaphor makes sense at the office—and perhaps even at home—it does not translate well into a collaborative environment such as the one that the OLPC laptops will embody. Therefore, we have adopted a new set of metaphors that emphasize community. While there are some correlations between the Sugar UI and those of traditional desktops, there are also clear distinctions. It is these distinctions that are the subject of the remainder of this section. We highlight the reasoning behind our shift in perspective and detail functionality with respect to the overall laptop experience.

*Desktop : [[#Zoom_Metaphor|Neighborhood]]

*Desktop : [[OLPC Human Interface Guidelines/The Laptop Experience#Zoom Metaphor|Neighborhood]]

*Menubar : [[#The_Frame|The Frame]]

*Menubar : [[OLPC Human Interface Guidelines/The Laptop Experience#The Frame|The Frame]]

*Hierarchical Filesystem : [[#The_Journal|Journal]]

*Hierarchical Filesystem : [[OLPC Human Interface Guidelines/The Laptop Experience#The Journal|Journal]]

*Applications : [[#Activities|Activities]]

*Applications : [[OLPC Human Interface Guidelines/Activities|Activities]]

*Files : [[#Objects|Objects]]

*Files : [[OLPC Human Interface Guidelines/The Laptop Experience#Objects|Objects]]

===Zoom Metaphor===

===Zoom Metaphor===

[[Image:zoom_levels.png|left|thumb|320px|Four distinct zoom levels define the laptop: Neighborhood, Friends, Home, and Activity]]

[[Image:zoom_levels.png|left|thumb|320px|Four distinct zoom levels define the laptop: Neighborhood, Friends, Home, and Activity]]

The mesh network is a permanent fixture of the laptop environment  and is represented explicitly in the interface. A zoom is used to relate four discrete views, each of which caters to a particular set of goals: Home, Friends, Neighborhood, and Activity. Using keyboard shortcuts or controls in the [[#The_Frame|Frame]], children may zoom in and out on the mesh community.   

The mesh network is a permanent fixture of the laptop environment  and is represented explicitly in the interface. A zoom is used to relate four discrete views, each of which caters to a particular set of goals: Home, Friends, Neighborhood, and Activity. Using keyboard shortcuts or controls in the [[OLPC Human Interface Guidelines/The Laptop Experience#The_Frame|Frame]], children may zoom in and out on the mesh community.   

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[[Image:home.jpg|right|thumb|240px|The Home view: Each child chooses a dual-tone color scheme for her XO character that is used throughout the interface. Activity icons are color-coded by the child who launched the activity.]]

[[Image:home.jpg|right|thumb|240px|The Home view: Each child chooses a dual-tone color scheme for her XO character that is used throughout the interface. Activity icons are color-coded by the child who launched the activity.]]

Of all the zoom levels, the Home view relates most closely to the traditional desktop. As the first screen presented to the child at startup, it serves as a starting point for the exploration of both the mesh network and also of her personal activities and objects. From this view, she may either back up first to a circle of [[#Friends|Friends]], and beyond that to a view of the entire mesh [[#Neighborhood|Neighborhood]], or, instead, zoom in to focus on a particular [[#Activity|Activity]].

Of all the zoom levels, the Home view relates most closely to the traditional desktop. As the first screen presented to the child at startup, it serves as a starting point for the exploration of both the mesh network and also of her personal activities and objects. From this view, she may either back up first to a circle of [[OLPC Human Interface Guidelines/The Laptop Experience#Friends|Friends]], and beyond that to a view of the entire mesh [[OLPC Human Interface Guidelines/The Laptop Experience#Neighborhood|Neighborhood]], or, instead, zoom in to focus on a particular [[OLPC Human Interface Guidelines/The Laptop Experience#Activity|Activity]].

The Home view interface is minimalistic. In the center of the screen, the [[#Icons|XO icon]]&mdash;rendered in her user-specified colors&mdash;represents the child to whom the laptop belongs. The [[#The_Activity_Ring|activity ring]] surrounds the character, indicating all of her currently open activities. Furthermore, the section of the ring that a given activity occupies directly represents the amount of memory that the particular activity requires to run, providing immediate visual feedback about memory constraints and exposing a means for resource management that doesn't require knowledge of the underlying architecture. Most activity management happens here: starting new [[#Privacy_Levels|private activities]], ending current activities, and switching between activities.

The Home view interface is minimalistic. In the center of the screen, the [[OLPC Human Interface Guidelines/The Sugar Interface#Icons|XO icon]]&mdash;rendered in her user-specified colors&mdash;represents the child to whom the laptop belongs. The activity ring surrounds the character, indicating all of her currently open activities. Furthermore, the section of the ring that a given activity occupies directly represents the amount of memory that the particular activity requires to run, providing immediate visual feedback about memory constraints and exposing a means for resource management that doesn't require knowledge of the underlying architecture. Most activity management happens here: starting new [[OLPC Human Interface Guidelines/Activities#Privacy_Levels|private activities]], ending current activities, and switching between activities.

When used in conjunction with the [[#Bulletin-Boards|Bulletin Board]], the Home view becomes the most direct correlate to a typical PC desktop as a place for keeping things handy: tomorrow's homework, a drawing one is working on, a favorite song, a reminder to oneself to do one's chores.

When used in conjunction with the [[OLPC Human Interface Guidelines/The Laptop Experience#Bulletin-Boards|Bulletin Board]], the Home view becomes the most direct correlate to a typical PC desktop as a place for keeping things handy: tomorrow's homework, a drawing one is working on, a favorite song, a reminder to oneself to do one's chores.

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