SurfaceFleet: Exploring Distributed Interactions Unbounded from Device, Application, User, and Time

Key Takeaways

surface fleet exploring distributed interactions unbounded from device application user and time modern information work increasingly relies on multi-device workflows and distributed workspaces motivated by this trend we built surface fleet a distributed system that leverages a robust and performant declarative database foundation thereby explores novel implications for migration of user experiences across devices in particular we use applets lightweight distributed user interface elements that float on top of the screen to unbind interactions from device application user and time the surface fleet system supports a variety of applets so people can work across devices with multiple applications collaborate with other users and take action at a synchronous or asynchronous time one example of a floating applet is simply a media primitive a piece of content that can be left around at hand for use in the moment as a reminder or to afford sharing but also media primitives can act as placeholders such as a generic empty image to be fulfilled at a later time containers offer another example these are like floating stacks of paper collecting multiple primitives and arranged as desired they can also be synchronized when passed to other devices likewise tools encapsulate generic behaviors such as a color picker to get a color from reference material on another device the mouse pointer the keyboard screen clipping to capture scraps of information or even an extract tool to conveniently tear out the current page portfolios offer a salient way to unbind sharing from users and devices just create a portfolio in your own distinctive style you can add any media primitive container or even tools and inputs these can all pass to a collaborator or another machine directly through simple drag and drop the portfolio is always there when you need it and fades into the background when not in use via the portfolio the mouse becomes a remote teleporter you can pass along the keyboard to remotely teletype on a large display or you can ask a colleague at a construction site to share their camera feed through the portfolio you can watch live even from multiple colleagues at the same time extract images and use them in your local documents interaction promises are proxies for content for fulfillment at an unbound time just create a placeholder to defer action and pass it along to a colleague then they can provide the missing information such as a photo needed from their site visit whenever they snap the picture on site or you can change your mind later and swap the picture for another the promise links back it's still there similarly you can insert a container promise collect images from multiple collaborators and then select your favorite to use in your document or try out different ones until you find the best fit overall surface fleet hints that the mobility of modern information work is not about any particular device but rather the transition of user activities from one place to another where interaction can be unbound in terms of device application user and time all via simple applets that float above the operating system shell and as application windows and that run as local or remote instances across single or multiple users and devices lighting up exciting society of devices experiences on a resilient distributed systems foundation you