Windows Multitaksing Concept - Multitasking and Charms Bar fix

One of the biggest change to Windows 8 was the introduction of fullscreen apps that completely got rid of the task bar. Many people hated this because the task bar had been an integral part of the windows experience for the past 20 years. It was an at-a-glance multitasking solution that...dare I say...just worked.

Microsoft instead transitioned to a gesture based multitasking window that flew in from the side. This was obviously meant for touch input rather than a desktop keyboard input, but could also be accessed with a mouse gesture on desktops.

Microsoft also introduced the charms bar which came out from the other side. This menu bar had options for settings and sharing for the particular application you were working in.

The problem with these gestures is that they seemed poorly thought out and in some cases, poorly implemented. On a touch input like the Microsoft Surface, to get to the multitasking menu, you dont just swipe in from the left. That switches you to the last app you were working in. To get the switcher you have to pull out and then push it back in (insert sex joke here).

example:

Step 1) ------>
Step 2) <------
Step 3) WINDOW SWITCHER!!!

This is a tad annoying, not to mention it doesn't work on a desktop. You have to go bottom left and up to get the multitasking and there is no method for quick switching applications. Not very intuitive at all.

The issue with the charms bar is that I usually forget it's there, which is a shame. Windows 8/8.1 has implemented a number of great features that are accessible from any application through the use of this bar. Unfortunately I never USE this bar and so the non-essential items are rarely used.

So what do I propose?

That's right folks. Just merge the two in to one gesture. Swiping in from the left will bring in the charms bar, the clock (not shown here) as well as the app switcher. Every time you go to switch an app, you are reminded of the many very cool functions that Windows 8 brings to the table. It will be easier to remember where the options are.

As for the duplicate start buttons, The start button in the middle of the charms bar might be a good spot for a notification menu (hint hint wink wink).

I would also disable quick app switching from the left and instead make that the gesture from the right. Since the new method moves the charms bar from the right to left swipe, that entire gesture area is empty. It's now a great place to put the quick switch gesture.

On a desktop I would also propose that Microsoft just introduces hot corners, like many Linux and OS X iterations. Instead of making multiple motions, one down to the bottom left or top left will present the new combo menu.

This solution adds an elegant solution to the mess that is the Windows 8 UX / UI. It makes things like multitasking and gestures more intuitive and less time consuming. Productivity will be overall much better with this new method. From my experience, most people work visually and this is about as visual as you can get with a gesture based OS.

I hope Microsoft is considering things like this for the next iterations of Windows. I feel like 8 and 8.1 had potential but the difficulty of the UI is holding some consumers back.