Editing Graphical user interface (section)

== Three-dimensional graphical user interface ==
{{About|uniquely software 3D UIs|both software and hardware 3D input/output devices|3D UIs|section=yes}}

Many environments and games use the methods of [[3D graphics]] to project 3D GUI objects onto the screen. The use of 3D graphics has become increasingly common in mainstream operating systems (ex. [[Windows Aero]], and [[Aqua (user interface)|Aqua]] (macOS)) to create attractive interfaces, termed eye candy (which includes, for example, the use of [[drop shadow]]s underneath windows and the [[Cursor (user interface)|cursor]]), or for functional purposes only possible using three dimensions. For example, user switching is represented by rotating a cube with faces representing each user's workspace, and window management is represented via a [[Rolodex]]-style flipping mechanism in [[Windows Vista]] (see [[Windows Flip 3D]]). In both cases, the operating system transforms windows on-the-fly while continuing to update the content of those windows.

The GUI is usually WIMP-based, although occasionally other metaphors surface, such as those used in [[Microsoft Bob]], 3dwm, File System Navigator, [[File System Visualizer]], 3D Mailbox,<ref>{{Cite web |date= |title=3D Mailbox – 3-Dimensional Email Software. Bring e-mail to life! Email just got cool and fun. |url=http://www.3dmailbox.com/ |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190721225321/http://www.3dmailbox.com/ |archive-date=2019-07-21 |access-date=2022-07-14 |website=3dmailbox.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=3D Mailbox |url=https://download.cnet.com/3D-Mailbox/3000-2367_4-10699471.html |access-date=2022-07-14 |website=Download.com |date=14 February 2017 |language=en}}</ref> and [[GopherVR]]. [[zooming user interface|Zooming]] (ZUI) is a related technology that promises to deliver the representation benefits of 3D environments without their usability drawbacks of orientation problems and hidden objects. In 2006, [[Hillcrest Labs]] introduced the first ZUI for television.<ref name="Moren">''Macworld.com'' November 11, 2006. Dan Moren. [http://gadgets.macworld.com/video/ces_unveiledny_07_point_and_cl.php CES Unveiled@NY ‘07: Point and click coming to set-top boxes?] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111108015801/http://gadgets.macworld.com/video/ces_unveiledny_07_point_and_cl.php|date=2011-11-08}}</ref> Other innovations include the menus on the [[PlayStation 2]]; the menus on the [[Xbox (console)|Xbox]]; Sun's [[Project Looking Glass]]; [[Metisse]], which was similar to Project Looking Glass;<ref>{{cite web |date=29 June 2004 |title=Metisse – New Looking Glass Alternative |url=https://developers.slashdot.org/story/04/06/29/229243/metisse---new-looking-glass-alternative |access-date=2 July 2020}}</ref> [[BumpTop]], where users can manipulate documents and windows with realistic movement and physics as if they were physical documents; [[Croquet OS]], which is built for collaboration;<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Smith |first1=David A. |last2=Kay |first2=Alan |last3=Raab |first3=Andreas |last4=Reed |first4=David P. |date= |title=Croquet – A Collaboration System Architecture |url=http://www.croquetconsortium.org/images/2/2b/2003_Croquet_Collab_Arch.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927082900/http://www.croquetconsortium.org/images/2/2b/2003_Croquet_Collab_Arch.pdf |archive-date=2007-09-27 |access-date=2022-09-17 |website=croquetconsortium.org |quote=The efforts at Xerox PARC under the leadership of Alan Kay that drove the development of [...] powerful bit-mapped display based user interfaces was key. In some ways, all we are doing here is extending this model to 3D and adding a new robust object collaboration model.}}</ref> and [[compositing window manager]]s such as [[Enlightenment (software)|Enlightenment]] and [[Compiz]]. [[Augmented reality]] and [[virtual reality]] also make use of 3D GUI elements.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Purwar |first=Sourabh |date=2019-03-04 |title=Designing User Experience for Virtual Reality (VR) applications |url=https://uxplanet.org/designing-user-experience-for-virtual-reality-vr-applications-fc8e4faadd96 |access-date=2022-05-06 |website=Medium |language=en}}</ref>

=== In science fiction ===
3D GUIs have appeared in [[science fiction]] literature and [[Science fiction film|films]], even before certain technologies were feasible or in common use.<ref>{{cite web |last=Dayton |first=Tom |title=Object-Oriented GUIs are the Future |url=http://openmct.blogspot.com/2012/08/object-oriented-guis-are-future.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140810170239/http://openmct.blogspot.com/2012/08/object-oriented-guis-are-future.html |archive-date=10 August 2014 |access-date=23 August 2012 |work=OpenMCT Blog}}</ref>

* In prose fiction, 3D GUIs have been portrayed as immersible environments, [[coined term|coined]] as [[William Gibson]]'s "[[cyberspace]]" and [[Neal Stephenson]]'s "[[metaverse]]" and "[[avatar (computing)|avatars]]".
* The 1993 American film ''[[Jurassic Park (film)|Jurassic Park]]'' features [[Silicon Graphics]]' 3D file manager File System Navigator, a real-life file manager for [[Unix]] operating systems.
* The film [[Minority Report (film)|''Minority Report'']] has scenes of police officers using specialized 3D data systems.