Conversation

In digital note systems, the UI centers on the experience of writing one note. The core operations and representations fixate on “the note you have open,” not on larger structures. I often can’t simultaneously see another note I’ve just finished writing—let alone the last four.
2
9
108
Most systems barely support multiple windows, but even if I can open multiple windows, it’s awkward to arrange them into the spatial relationships I might naturally use for physical index cards. Rather than peripheral vision, it’s like I’m wearing horse blinders and mittens.
Image
6
7
114
Backlinks are a weak peripheral vision, and they help, but they’re generally about switching the one note you have open, not an effective means of sense-making across many notes. Contextual backlinks help, but if you navigate, you lose object permanence.
3
7
100
If I read an old digital note, I get the unnerving sense that it’s part of some “whole” that I can’t see at all—no matter how much hypertext is involved. Working with physical notes, I’d shuffle notes around to make sense of the structure. There isn’t a digital equivalent.
7
16
157
just started to tinker with which seems like a step in the direction for allowing peripheral vision. Diagram and sidebars. It just got into the wild. following this thread for more example, great topic
1
11
Roam's certainly trying! I'm curious about approaches which maintain object permanence. Most approaches, incl Roam's, are heavy on "switching the primary focus" as a core operation. I want to see more unusual ideas! Most attempts here are so boring. Here's a weird prototype:
Embedded video
0:18
3.3K views
12
8
108
We've been thinking that. Though for many users most pages are blank, and primarily a collection of backlinks. Have also considered using attributes to define a summary for showing on preview, inspired by
2
4