Fokus - new UI concept that emphasizes text-selection

[+] forgotusername|13 years ago|reply

Pretty sweet, although I'd prefer seeing it as an optional user agent feature than a web page feature. When reading long articles, I regularly use the text selection highlight to back-reference as I continue reading, or to mark my spot while I skim back. Obviously this breaks with a concept like Fokus.

[+] ryanpetrich|13 years ago|reply

A Fokus Chrome extension exists: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/flkkpmjbbpijiedjdg...

[+] moystard|13 years ago|reply

I am just amazed by the creativity of the author. All his projects look interesting.

[+] MatthewPhillips|13 years ago|reply

Nice, but I really like this one: http://lab.hakim.se/meny/

[+] agumonkey|13 years ago|reply

He sh/could license it to Microsoft Metro division

[+] molmalo|13 years ago|reply

I tried Meny in my phone, using both: Dolphin and Chrome. I had problems with both. In Dolphin, sliding from the left edge makes the Bookmarks menu appear, and with Chrome that gesture makes it switch to the previous tab.

[+] masukomi|13 years ago|reply

The idea is nice. I'm one of those few geeks who actually does select text as I read it, but the implementation makes changing highlighted paragraphs non-intuitive. Re-selecting something to move doesn't seem right. This thing has been created on my screen and I want to move it... maybe arrow keys, maybe clicking to where I want it to go.... click-dragging some other piece of text on the screen is just a very non-intuitive means of motion control.

[+] grimtrigger|13 years ago|reply

Neat idea, but its a bit harsh. Maybe instead of a black overlay, fade the text and images not selected to a lower opacity? Probably would be very intensive to act on all those individual elements though.

[+] juretriglav|13 years ago|reply

No need to do it on individual elements. If instead of the black overlay you use an semi-transparent overlay with the same color as the background behind the text/images, you will get the same effect as if you would reduce alpha on all of the text/images individually.

[+] mmanfrin|13 years ago|reply

As someone who compulsively text-selectors when I read, this is neat.

[+] adamkiss|13 years ago|reply

Neat? I thought it sucks for me for the same reason… Once I started text selecting as I usually do, it went black, then back, then black… annoying.

[+] digitalengineer|13 years ago|reply

Also check out his other project: http://rvl.io Nice. (if it could go full screen it'd be even better)

[+] cocoflunchy|13 years ago|reply

I believe it can ! http://lab.hakim.se/reveal-js/#/

[+] Zak|13 years ago|reply

I get

    Uncaught TypeError: Object #<Object> has no method 'getRangeAt'

on Chrome on Linux.

[+] agumonkey|13 years ago|reply

I'd merge some ideas here:

  - Different trigger
    Double click is too proactive, maybe a timed click
    2s + mousedown => focus.(or on drag)

  - Smooth transition between selections
    If on a focused state, don't fade in the page to fade it out entirely, or slower and darker.

Great thing though, similar to the minimalist/darkroom trend

[+] abhinavg|13 years ago|reply

Nice idea but it doesn't work with selections that are changed using the keyboard (in Chrome on OSX). That is, if I make a selection using the mouse and then use the keyboard to alter it using Shift+Down, the focused area does not get updated and the browser continues to select text in the blacked-out area.

[+] hakim|13 years ago|reply

That's been fixed now, thanks for the heads up.

[+] scoremotive|13 years ago|reply

Very cool. I love all the experiments on the site. Really creative stuff.

[+] cutie|13 years ago|reply

This seems like it would be good for watching videos at night (if the wrapping div can be selected). Many are embedded on white pages and this would help a lot.

[+] keiferski|13 years ago|reply

Cool, but selecting text is awkward (especially on a MBP) and I only do it to copy/paste.

Maybe hover is a better trigger?

[+] DanBC|13 years ago|reply

Single finger click and drag on the pad thing to select?

[+] milkshakes|13 years ago|reply

if you have a newer mbp, with the oversized trackpad, you can select text with less frustration using three fingers

[+] RyanMcGreal|13 years ago|reply

Very cool! It would be even cooler if there was some way to turn the page with highlighted text into a named anchor link.

[+] vineet|13 years ago|reply

This is cool. Would love to see it as a bookmarklet.

[+] lifeisstillgood|13 years ago|reply

I love meny too, but fokus is not working at all on iOS - then again I have no idea of the js model on iPad.

Overall I think these just point to firefox os and chrome os as becoming the whole experience for most devices most ofbthe time.

I mean I am on paper an IT professional at the cutting edge. Most of my domestic surfing is on iOS devices in e kitchen. It is only frustrating 1/10 times

28 comments