Another GSoC idea: Esse, a framework for visualizing, storing and exploring ideas

I would like to propose another idea for GSoC. It is inspired by students I mentor in Tver State University and is a part of their current term project.  So…

(A prototype of) "Esse", a framework for visualizing, storing and exploring ideas
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Level: Intermediate
Possible mentor: Dennis Schetinin
Possible second mentor: ???

Description

Simply put, this is a framework for building presentations of a new generation. Somewhat similar to http://prezi.com, but even more advanced in perspective. The emphasis is on supporting thinking processes, saving, evolving, presenting and sharing ideas.


Technical Details

A possible result for the project can be described as follows:

- an unbounded workspace that can be visualized and browsed with a camera metaphor (including panning, zooming, rotating operations)
- set of conventional graphics primitives to build presentations (like text, boxes, pictures, arrows, etc.)
- a capability to put any morph in the workspace
- creating paths for camera, animations
- tools to control presentation and change it "on-the-fly"

Morphic seems to be the main subject of the project at the current stage. 


Benefits to the Student

The student will learn Morphic, practice in building GUI applications/frameworks, improve Smalltalk programming skills.


Benefits to the community

- Morphic, GUI improvements
- Unbounded workspace conception looks great as a basis for future development environment
- Looking forward, popularize Smalltalk by presenting some benefits of its live object environment
- …


Best regards,
Dennis Schetinin
Sent with Sparrow

… Forgot to mention (deeming it's obvious): any comments, opinions, ideas are welcome!