Project Elevate

If you're tired of the desktop metaphor, Project Elevate might be worth checking out. It offers a set of applications designed to simplify tasks for casual computer users. Many people dislike the look and feel of current desktop environments, finding them too complicated and annoying. But computers can have simple interfaces like videos, MP3 players, and old mobile phones; it's a myth that the UI has to be complicated due to the computer's multiple roles.

Multitasking is also a myth, as most casual computer users only do one thing at a time. They read email, browse the web, and work on office applications without using multiple apps at once. Project Elevate aims to support this claim, providing one application per role. The user environment consists of four distinct applications: Central Hub (5%), Vault (30%), Elevate (50%), and Syndesis (15%). New functionality comes from new application modules rather than complete applications.

In the latest release, sample modules have been added. Project Elevate is an experiment created by the developer for personal use, but the code is public for other developers to use and contribute to. To learn more about the motivation behind the project, read the manifesto pages. For casual computer users seeking a simpler interface, Project Elevate may be worth giving a try.