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When used in conjunction with the [[Design Team/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, etc.

When used in conjunction with the [[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, etc.

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[[Image:friends.jpg|right|thumb|240px|The Groups view: Members of the currently selected group and their current activities are visible from this view. Hovering over a “missing” XO reveals an "away message."]]

[[Image:friends.jpg|right|thumb|240px|The Groups view: Members of the currently selected group and their current activities are visible from this view. Hovering over a “missing” XO reveals an "away message."]]

The Groups view takes a small step back from the child's Home space, opening up to include their circle of friends, their classmates, and any other groups to which a child belongs.  The Friends group essentially represents a spatially viewable and editable buddy list. From here the child can add or remove friends and move individuals around, perhaps arranging them logically.  The Class group is defined dynamically, and includes all others in the same class, and their teachers as well.  This group provides the perfect space for working and sharing with classmates, posting projects for class critique, or for picking up the homework assignment the teacher posted to the class [[Design Team/Human Interface Guidelines/The Laptop Experience/Bulletin Boards|Bulletin Board]].

The Groups view takes a small step back from the child's Home space, opening up to include their circle of friends, their classmates, and any other groups to which a child belongs.  The Friends group essentially represents a spatially viewable and editable buddy list. From here the child can add or remove friends and move individuals around, perhaps arranging them logically.  The Class group is defined dynamically, and includes all others in the same class, and their teachers as well.  This group provides the perfect space for working and sharing with classmates, posting projects for class critique, or for picking up the homework assignment the teacher posted to the class [[Human Interface Guidelines/The Laptop Experience/Bulletin Boards|Bulletin Board]].

In addition to several special classes of groups, children may also generate groups on their own.  This might provide a way for a close group of friends to keep up with each other's activities, or for a group of aspiring photographers to share photos. In a classroom setting, this provides a way for the children to create temporary groups for working on classroom exercises, or long term groups for extended projects.  To create a group, a child can search for or select any number of individuals on the mesh.  Each of these individuals will receive an invitation to join the group, and upon accepting the invitation will have its name added to their list of Groups, where they can see and chat with members, and post to the group Bulletin Board.  Although one person initially creates a group, groups are not managed.  Instead, people may choose to leave a group on their own, and anyone in the group may invite other members into it.  When this happens, all current group members receive introduction [[Human Interface Guidelines/Activities/Activity Basics#Notifications|notification]], making them aware of the new member.  This open model simplifies the interaction and encourages the learning of natural social dynamics instead of attempting to enforce them via rules and restrictions.

In addition to several special classes of groups, children may also generate groups on their own.  This might provide a way for a close group of friends to keep up with each other's activities, or for a group of aspiring photographers to share photos. In a classroom setting, this provides a way for the children to create temporary groups for working on classroom exercises, or long term groups for extended projects.  To create a group, a child can search for or select any number of individuals on the mesh.  Each of these individuals will receive an invitation to join the group, and upon accepting the invitation will have its name added to their list of Groups, where they can see and chat with members, and post to the group Bulletin Board.  Although one person initially creates a group, groups are not managed.  Instead, people may choose to leave a group on their own, and anyone in the group may invite other members into it.  When this happens, all current group members receive introduction [[Human Interface Guidelines/Activities/Activity Basics#Notifications|notification]], making them aware of the new member.  This open model simplifies the interaction and encourages the learning of natural social dynamics instead of attempting to enforce them via rules and restrictions.