View source for Project Looking Glass

{{Short description|3D desktop project sponsored by Sun Microsystems}}
{{About||the airplane|Operation Looking Glass|the United States Postal Service sting operation|Jacobson v. United States}}
{{distinguish|Looking Glass (desktop environment)}}

{{Infobox software
| name                   = Project Looking Glass
| screenshot             =
| caption                = Demonstrating existing 2D applications and a 3D CD selector demo application are coexisting inside the 3D desktop environment
| developer              = LG3D developers
| released               = {{Start date and age|2003}}
| latest release version = 1.0.1
| latest release date    = {{release date|2007|01|29}}
| discontinued           = yes
| operating system       = [[Linux]], [[Solaris (operating system)|Solaris]], [[Microsoft Windows|Windows]]
| genre                  = [[Desktop environment]]
| programming language   = [[Java (programming language)|Java]]
| license                = [[GNU General Public License]]
| website                = {{url|http://java.net/projects/lg3d}} {{dead link|date=October 2018}}
}}

'''Project Looking Glass''' is a now inactive [[free software]] project under the [[GNU General Public License|GPL]] to create an innovative [[Graphical user interface#Three-dimensional user interfaces|3D desktop environment]] for [[Linux]], [[Solaris (operating system)|Solaris]], and [[Microsoft Windows|Windows]]. It was sponsored by [[Sun Microsystems]].

Looking Glass is programmed in the [[Java (programming language)|Java]] language using the [[Java 3D]] system to remain platform agnostic. Despite the use of graphics acceleration features, the desktop explores the use of 3D windowing capabilities for both existing application programs and ones specifically designed for Looking Glass.

There is a [[Live CD]] available from Project Looking Glass.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.softpedia.com/news/Looking-Glass-LiveCD-23726.shtml|title=Looking Glass LiveCD|last=Nestor|first=Marius|website=softpedia|date=15 May 2006 |language=english|access-date=2020-03-19}}</ref> The Looking Glass environment is also included on a Live DVD (FunWorks 2007 edition) from the [[Granular Linux]] project.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://distrowatch.com/index-mobile.php?newsid=04514|title=Distribution Release: Granular Linux 2007 "FunWorks" (DistroWatch.com News)|website=distrowatch.com|access-date=2020-03-19}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.granularlinux.com/main/news.php?item.26.2|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090129172949/http://www.granularlinux.com/main/news.php?item.26.2|url-status=usurped|archive-date=2009-01-29|date=2009-01-29|access-date=2020-03-19|title=Granular-Linux: Granular FunWorks 2007 released }}</ref>

== History ==
Looking Glass was first developed by Hideya Kawahara, a Sun [[programmer]] who wrote it in his spare time on a [[Linux]] laptop.  After demonstrating an early version to Sun executives, he was assigned to it full-time with a dedicated team and open sourced the project.<ref>{{cite web
 |url = http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1895,1617822,00.asp
 |archive-url = https://archive.today/20130122194755/http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1895,1617822,00.asp
 |url-status = dead
 |archive-date = January 22, 2013
 |title = Sun Opens Its 3-D 'Looking Glass' Linux Desktop
 |publisher = eWEEK
 }}</ref> It was demonstrated by [[Jonathan I. Schwartz|Jonathan Schwartz]] at [[LinuxWorld Expo]] 2003 in San Francisco.<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20081205024825/http://wiki.granularlinux.com/en/Looking_Glass Granular Linux Documentation<!-- Bot generated title -->]}}</ref>
After the demonstration, Apple CEO [[Steve Jobs]] called Schwartz's office and told him that Apple would sue Sun if they moved forward to commercialize it – Jobs felt the project infringed Apple's [[intellectual property]].<ref>{{cite web
 |last = Schwartz
 |first = Jonathan
 |url = http://jonathanischwartz.wordpress.com/2010/03/09/good-artists-copy-great-artists-steal/
 |title = Good Artists Copy, Great Artists Steal
 |date = March 9, 2010
 }}</ref>
Regardless of the threat, Sun determined that the project was not a priority and decided not to put more resource to develop it to product quality.  The project continued in an experimental mode, but with Sun's finances deteriorating, it became inactive in late 2006.<ref>{{Cite web
 |last        = Kawahara
 |first       = Hideya
 |url         = http://forums.java.net/jive/ann.jspa?annID=252
 |title       = Announcement: INACTIVE (PRACTICALLY DEAD) since late 2006
 |date        = September 18, 2009
 |url-status  = dead
 |archiveurl  = https://web.archive.org/web/20091123072758/http://forums.java.net/jive/ann.jspa?annID=252
 |archivedate = November 23, 2009
}}</ref>

== Features ==
[[File:Lg3d-ss-config-2.jpg|thumb|250px|Configuring an application using its backside of the window represented as a 3D slate in the 3D space]]
One of its most notable features is the creation of reversible [[Window (computing)|windows]]. This capability can be used for features like allowing the user to write notes and comments on the windows' backs, or displaying application dialogs without risking their being detached from the application they relate to. All windows start by looking like a normal [[2D computer graphics|2D]] or [[2.5D]] window, but can be manipulated as thin slate-like 3D objects which can be set at any angle or turned completely around by the user.

[[File:LG3D-slanted-windows.jpg|thumb|250px|Tilting all the windows to assist the user to pick up a desired window]]
Other features include tilting all the window to assist the user to pick up a desired window, provision of a panning virtual desktop, icons that reflect the live status of the window they represent and zooming of a window when it receives focus.

There are a few designs that Looking Glass implemented which appeared in other products in later years. One technique became popular by [[Apple Inc.|Apple]]'s [[Dashboard (macOS)|Dashboard]] [[Widget engine|widgets]] is configuration of an application (widget) by flipping its visual and performing updates on the backside of it. The visual of [[Apple Inc.|Apple]]'s [[macOS]] [[Dock (macOS)|Dock]] became similar to Looking Glass's look when [[Mac OS X Leopard|Leopard]] was released.<ref>{{Cite web
 |url = https://www.engadget.com/2007/06/12/leopard-dock-resembles-suns-project-looking-glass/
 |title = Leopard dock resembles Sun's Project Looking Glass?
 |date = June 12, 2007
 }}</ref>
[[Windows 7]] implements a feature for window selection that hides other windows than the one that the user placed the mouse cursor on a thumbnail above the taskbar.  It resembles Looking Glass's usage of transparency for window selection using window thumbnails on the taskbar.<ref>{{Cite web
 |url   = http://www.dev.java.net/files/documents/1833/149353/LG3D-Overview.pdf
 |title = Project Looking Glass: A Comprehensive Overview of the Technology
 |date  = March 14, 2006
}}{{Dead link|date=August 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

== Similar projects ==
Looking Glass is similar to the [https://web.archive.org/web/20150113062228/http://research.microsoft.com/en-us/um/people/dcr/work/TaskGallery/ TaskGallery] prototype from [[Microsoft]] Research and the open source [[Croquet project]] based on [[Squeak]] in terms of allowance for the user to manipulate applications (including existing 2D applications) in a 3D space.  However, user interaction models of TaskGallery and Croquet are based on [[virtual reality]]-like experience where the user moves inside the 3D space to perform tasks, whereas Looking Glass retains the operational model of today's desktop (i.e. no walking around inside the 3D space) and uses 3D effects selectively where they are thought to be effective. Also, these three are similar as they are meant to work on adapted or enhanced versions of existing desktops rather than re-designing the entire [[graphical user interface]] from scratch, an approach taken by many [[zooming user interface|Zooming User Interface]] projects such as the one created by [[Jef Raskin]].

While many window managers (such as Microsoft's [[Desktop Window Manager]], the [[X Window System]] based [[Compiz]], and [[macOS]] through [[Core Animation]]) can utilize 3D effects, these merely augment a conventional 2D environment.

== See also ==
* [[Compiz]]
* [[Windows Aero]]
* [[OpenCroquet]]
* [[Metisse]]
* [[BumpTop]]
* [[Zooming User Interface]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXv8VlpoK_g#t=1m52s Official Demo Video on Youtube]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20160415024803/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMWd1FOgr18 Another demo movie clip on Youtube]  - Without marketing speeches, but in lower quality.
* [http://lg3d.dev.java.net/files/documents/1833/149353/LG3D-Overview.pdf Project Looking Glass: A Comprehensive Overview of the Technology]  {{dead link|date=August 2012}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20130609081034/https://java.net/projects/lg3d Development home]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20130303031047/http://java.net/projects/lg3d-livecd LG3D Live CD]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20141230180041/https://today.java.net/pub/a/today/2004/07/06/3ddesktop.html Interview with Hideya Kawahara]
* [http://lg3d.dev.java.net/files/documents/1833/149353/LG3D-Overview.pdf Project Looking Glass: A Comprehensive Overview of the Technology] {{dead link|date=August 2012}}

{{Sun Microsystems}}

[[Category:2003 software]]
[[Category:Products and services discontinued in 2007]]
[[Category:3D GUIs]]
[[Category:Free X window managers]]
[[Category:Cross-platform software]]
[[Category:Java platform software]]
[[Category:Sun Microsystems software]]