Surf Wiki
Save to docs
general/user-interfaces

From Surf Wiki (app.surf) — the open knowledge base

Multiple frames interface

A multiple frames interface (MFI) is a type of user interface which displays information in a set of frames or panels that can be scrolled vertically on a screen. It is an integrated interface designed to bring together virtually all the services of an internet portal or an operating system onto a single screen.

History

Paned windows were introduced in file browsers in the 1990s in order to divide the window into sections for a more intuitive approach. Netscape 2.0 introduced the elements used for html frames in the 1990s (see Netscape Navigator). At that time, Netscape proposed frames to the W3C for inclusion in the HTML 3.0 standard. IGoogle with its gadgets is an early type of MFI.

Description

An MFI consists of a set of panels that can be maximized, minimized, restored, or moved, being tiled on a scrollable "page" on the screen. As of January 2009, only HTML-based MFIs are functional, and no "desktop" versions are available. The HTML-based MFI is an alternative to the web desktop, allowing simultaneous use of multiple rich web applications.

Advantages

The MFIs have several advantages over desktop environments:

  • From a visual standpoint, the work with frames is more fluent.
  • Frames do not overlap on the screen.
  • The number of frames on the screen is limited to a number that can be handled by the user.
  • Several frames are permanently on screen.

Shortcomings

  • Scrolling the set of frames can be difficult.
  • Many panels open permanently use more memory.
Info: Wikipedia Source

This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page.

user-interfaces user-interface-techniques widget-engines
Want to explore this topic further?

Ask Mako anything about Multiple frames interface — get instant answers, deeper analysis, and related topics.

Research with Mako

Free with your Surf account

Content sourced from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This content may have been generated or modified by AI. CloudSurf Software LLC is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of AI-generated content. Always verify important information from primary sources.

Report