When One Isn't Enough: An Analysis of Virtual Desktop Usage Strategies and Their Implications for Design

Meredith Ringel
CHI: Extended Abstracts, 2003
Screen space is a limited resource for computer users— multiple monitors are one means of workspace expansion, and “virtual desktops” are yet another way to increase screen real-estate. We present a taxonomy of organization strategies based on our observations during a series of interviews with virtual desktop users. Additionally, we explore causes of varying user preferences for physical versus virtual means of screen-space expansion. Finally, we discuss the design implications of our findings.

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