At the heart of MMV is its user interface — an exquisitely simple visual metaphor combined with an easy to understand hierarchy.

MMV's user interface consists of a central application space (a desktop) bordered by four thin handles See Fig. 1. These handles are always visible when MMV is in operation. Each handle represents a category defining the type of elements found in an off-screen sliding panel that is attached to the handle. Those four categories are "People," "Places," "Things," and "Home."

Users quickly associate those categories with the familiar expression "people, places, and things" — an expression universally understood to express a natural division of elements found in a person's daily life. For MMV users, that expression provides a natural organizational concept for understanding what can be found within MMV's panels.

Whenever a user clicks a handle, its panel opens to expose its contents. The handle's icon is changed to an arrow to indicate that clicking the handle again will close the panel.

Fig. 2 shows the People panel opened and revealing MMV's various communications and scheduling features. As its name implies, the People panel contains only those applications and services related to a user's interaction with people. If a user wishes to check or create email, start an instant messaging session, or check an appointment, this panel is the logical choice. The People panel also provides a search feature that permits searching the entire contents of the panel (email, appointments, stored IM sessions, etc.)

Fig. 3. shows the opened Places panel. This panel provides access to everything external to a user's MMV environment such as Internet sites and services, news sources, RSS feeds, and MMV's library of applications designed to run in the MMV environment. By clicking various items in the Places panel, a standard tree hierarchy (similar to Windows Explorer) is presented to the user that permits the panel's elements to be explored. At the bottom of the Places panel is a search field that permits the panel's elements and the Internet at-large to be searched.

Fig. 4. shows the opened Things panel. This panel provides highly targed advertising, e-commerce features, and search and directory facilities that enable a user to locate and purchase products and services (e.g. things to buy.) Because a user's sense of ownership in the MMV interface is critical to its success, the Things panel does not reveal an advertisement without the user's consent. The icon on its handle will briefly flash, or change to an advertiser-selected icon, to signal that an ad is available for viewing. Because of the highly targeted nature of the panel's ads, a user's curiosity will likely be rewarded with an ad of interest, thus reinforcing his or her voluntary viewing behavior. The Things panel may open to nearly the full workspace area if needed to expose a presentation.This offers a greatly expanded canvas for advertisers as compared to traditional banner ads.

Fig. 5. shows the opened Home panel. This panel provides a user's personal storage space in the MMV environment. A user's favorite MMV applications may be dragged or copied from the MMV App. Library in the Places panel to the Home panel for quick access. A user's documents, files, and Internet bookmarks are also stored in the Home panel, and may be browsed using the same type of tree hierarchy as found in the Places panel. At the bottom of the Home panel is a search field that permits searching of all items within the Home panel. Finally, a trash bin is provided for disposing of unwanted items.

MMV's simple organizational structure and hierarchy encourages users' intuitive understanding, and enables them to immediately recognize and operate MMV on devices with widely differing display characteristics.

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Fig. 1. The People, Places, Things, and Home handles border the application space.


Fig. 2. The People panel provides applications and services related to a user's interaction with people (email, IM, SMS, calendar, social networking links, etc.)


Fig. 3. The Places panel provides access to items external to a user's MMV environment (web sites, news, blogs, RSS feeds, and MMV applications)


Fig. 4. The Things panel provides MMV's non-intrusive advertising, as well as search and directory tools for locating products and services.


Fig. 5. the Home panel provides a user's personal storage space for applications and files.