Using 3D landscapes to navigate file systems: the MountainView interface

A novel 3D file navigation interface is described, using the principle of visual recognition to locate and manipulate thumbnails of files. The interface, named "MountainView", uses concepts from video game environments, allowing the user to place, search for, and move thumbnails, as well as allowing direct application launch from the slopes of a 3D mountain that can be circumnavigated by the user. MountainView is currently in a conceptual form and being tested with paper prototypes. Early results indicate that users can more easily find files through recognition of 3D landmarks, but that unfamiliarity with the interface can be a barrier to acceptance.