[Design] Use of color in Datebook app

[selva r]

The recent thread on importing calendar files got me
thinking about how the triaging system would best fit
in with the consumer market usual demand for color in
calendars for categories of events rather than for
triaging.  After all, the Datebook app is a special
beast in that the "triaging" of items accross a
relative time axis is already done by way of the
item's position in the app itself.

However, some items appearing in the Datebook app
might be so important that it is grouped in a
collection and triaged like any other Chandler app
item.  For example, a company meeting may be several
weeks away but because of it's importance it could get
linked to other Chandler items and triaged in the Now
box.

One way to handle the dual usage of color in the
Datebook app might be by way of pull down filter
system.  One filter could apply the user's color
schemes for categories of events while another filter
could apply the usual Now-Later-Done color scheme to
Datebook events.  The pull down filters would need to
be available on day view, week view, as well as month
view of the calendar.  

Hence, this allows us to offer to the user a different
colored font for each calendar file.  Two or more
calendar files could then be viewed simultaneously
using different colored fonts for each category of
Datebook events.  The event category colors could be
extended to not just the font but also forming
semitransparent color fill time blocks that may
overlap each other.  Overlapping event categories may
also be more appealing visually if each category's
events were presented in their own specific heights
above the desktop with drop shadows.  For example, if
a "Business" category event was selected, then all
events in the Business category would be brought to
the forefront with the largest drop shaddow heights,
and other categories such as "Personal" or "Soccer
schedule" would drop down to lower heights above the
desktop with smaller drop shaddows.

When the Triage filter is turned ON then the displayed
combination of calendar categories could then switch
to the Now-Later-Done color scheme to help users
identify important Datebook events that have been
filed along this axis.  Here, the Now items would be
the furthest raised above the desktop with largest
drop shaddow, followed by Later items and finally Done
box and unfiled items both at the level of the
desktop.

The option for category specific color schemes for
Datebook app should only be required for the main
calendar frame.  The sidebar for collections display
could continue to show only Triage color scheme.

This type of system would allow consumers to design
and print out colorful calendars with clipart and the
like while still allowing for triage specific overview
of the Datebook app.

--Selva



	

	
		
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