Pointer Dock

Hello:

As the name may have already suggested, my request is for someone to create a program that connects a dock-like thing to the mouse-pointer. I have sketched up a picture that should give a better idea of what I am talking about.

Here is what the application can be programmed to do:

- The mouse functions just as normally as ever before

- The dock-like application is "attached/hoovers" right under the pointer (kind of like those cool effects that can be programmed to the websites by temporarily attaching things to the pointer - such as virtual clocks, animated messages, etc. - for the time the mouse stays within the proximity of that kind of a website.

- This "dock" will not work until one of the buttons of the mouse is pressed (and held - or whatever else seems better). Once the button is pressed (maybe a long right-click?), the dock will then stop following the cursor and thereby the user can hoover it over the (now stationary) dock.

- With the mouse's button(s) still pressed, when the user goes over the dock, the icons/programs in the dock maximize in size and position just like the regular docks do.

- Releasing the button, when the cursor is right on the icon of selection will initiate the program

Having this kind of a program will give a quick and easy access literally anywhere on the screen, rather than moving the pointer to the regular dock. Plus, it is something that (to my knowledge) has not been done before! Good luck!

#188258

Actually there was a program called Orbit developed last year that did exactly what you described. Instead of creating a linear dock it made a little circular dock (thus the orbit reference) around the mouse pointer. The unfortunate thing is I couldn't make it work on my system at that time.

Apparently the developer is recoding the entire project; if you want to give it a try here's the link.

#188273

Very cool! The creator of this actually went a step ahead and made the thing much more sophisticated! Thanks voltaic! Having said that, if someone is still willing to make a simple "dock" for the cursor, that would be super! :woot:

#188402

I'm sure someone could mod a version of one of the existing docks, so it floats instead of 'sticking' to the edge. However I'm not sure how this would be implemented.

sounds pretty cool though

#188416

In any case, wouldn't it be too visually distracting and cpu demanding?

It's ok with 4 icons, but imagine 8-10-.. icons following your cursor all the time

#213977

I think this idea would be really useful if done properly.

#214126