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Idea #2: Extend LCDproc by support of pictograms

Written by wosfha the 12 Oct 11 at 20:59. Related project: Nothing/Others. Status: New

Rationale

In addition to alphanumeric characters represented by segments or pixels, LCD/VFD displays are often capable to show additional pictograms, mostly arranged around the alphanumeric display part.

These pictograms can be switched on or off, or changed in their brightness, or by changing their appearance as seen for volume settings.

LCDproc comes with icons that are integrated into the alphanumeric display part, but is unaware of pictograms as described above.

Nowadays HTPCs seem to have become quite popular, and there you quite commonly find displays with pictograms.

So this is an inquiry how to handle such pictograms. For the moment, let us confine ourselves to multi media. If you need other areas I suggest you start a new idea here.

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Note: The common term for pictograms is indeed icons, but to distinguish the feature from LCDproc's already existing icon feature the term pictogram has been chosen.

Tags: (none)

1
votes

Solution #1: Survey on pictogram types to extend LCDproc's driver and client interface

Written by wosfha the 12 Oct 11 at 20:59.

In order to know how to design interface extensions I would like to collect pictogram types that are candidates for a support. As there are countless variations I would concentrate on the most important ones from multi media, such that a reasonable portion of applications is covered.

So I start a list, and you may complete it by your comments. Please add "must have" (where we should concentrate on) or "optional" (which can be added if frequently asked for) to your entries.

My personal list:
(With results from comment "mmdolze (Administrator) wrote on the 13 Oct 11 at 06:27".)

HDD, FireWire, USB, CD, DVD, Blu-ray, TV, HDTV, Radio, Web:
Shows which (hardware) media input is active.
Radio button like, each pictogram can be switched on/off;
or has a parameter (e.g. for data rate, spin animation or signal strength).
Must have.

MPG, DIVX, XVID, WMV, MP4:
Shows video media input coding.
Radio button like, each pictogram can be switched on/off.
Must have.

[...]

News, Weather:
Shows which media input is active.
Each on/off.
Optional.

Movie, Music, Photo:
Shows which (software) media input is active.
Radio button like, but each pictogram can be switched on/off.
Must have.

Play, Pause, Stop, Record, Fast forward, Rewind, Repeat, Shuffle:
Shows current media player navigation/replay state.
Radio button like, but each pictogram can be switched on/off.
Must have.

Progress bar:
Shows progress as defined by assigned parameter.
Must have.

Time, Alarm:
Time state, alarm state.
Each pictogram can be switched on/off.
Must have.

XP, SP, LP, EP:
Shows record quality.
Radio button like, but each pictogram can be switched on/off.
Optional.

Res480, Res720, Res1080:
Shows vertical line resolution.
Radio button like, but each pictogram can be switched on/off.
Optional.

MobileSync:
Mobile synchronisation.
On/off.
Optional.

E-Mail, Message:
Shows if e-mail or message is available.
On/off.
Must have.

Volume:
Shows volume (e.g. word) symbol.
On/off.
Must have.

Mute:
Speakers are off if icon is switched on.
On/off.
Must have.

Volume bar:
Numerical parameter showing current volume (e.g. with bars).
Must have.

WLAN:
Shows WLAN activity or availibility
On/off.
Must have.

WLAN strength:
Numerical parameter showing current volume (e.g. with bars).
Must have.

L, C, R, SW, LS, RS, LR, RR, 5.1, 7.1:
Speaker settings (left front, center, right front subwoofer, left side, right side, left rear, right rear).
Each on/off.
Must have.

S/PDIF:
Shows is S/PDIF signal if is available.
On/off.
Must have.

Stereo, DTS, dolby digital, pro logic I/II, MP3, OGG, WMA, WAV, MPG, AC3, WMA:
Shows sound input coding.
Must have.

So I start a list, and you may complete it by your comments. Please add "must have" (where we should concentrate on) or "optional" (which can be added if frequently asked for) to your entries.

My personal list:
(With results from comment "mmdolze (Administrator) wrote on the 13 Oct 11 at 06:27".)

HDD, FireWire, USB, CD, DVD, Blu-ray, TV, HDTV, Radio, Web:
Shows which (hardware) media input is active.
Radio button like, each pictogram can be switched on/off;
or has a parameter (e.g. for data rate, spin animation or signal strength).
Must have.

MPG, DIVX, XVID, WMV, MP4:
Shows video media input coding.
Radio button like, each pictogram can be switched on/off.
Must have.

News, Weather:
Shows which media input is active.
Each on/off.
Optional.

Movie, Music, Photo:
Shows which (software) media input is active.
Radio button like, but each pictogram can be switched on/off.
Must have.

Play, Pause, Stop, Record, Fast forward, Rewind, Repeat, Shuffle:
Shows current media player navigation/replay state.
Radio button like, but each pictogram can be switched on/off.
Must have.

Progress bar:
Shows progress as defined by assigned parameter.
Must have.

Time, Alarm:
Time state, alarm state.
Each pictogram can be switched on/off.
Must have.

XP, SP, LP, EP:
Shows record quality.
Radio button like, but each pictogram can be switched on/off.
Optional.

Res480, Res720, Res1080:
Shows vertical line resolution.
Radio button like, but each pictogram can be switched on/off.
Optional.

MobileSync:
Mobile synchronisation.
On/off.
Optional.

E-Mail, Message:
Shows if e-mail or message is available.
On/off.
Must have.

Volume:
Shows volume (e.g. word) symbol.
On/off.
Must have.

Mute:
Speakers are off if icon is switched on.
On/off.
Must have.

Volume bar:
Numerical parameter showing current volume (e.g. with bars).
Must have.

WLAN:
Shows WLAN activity or availibility
On/off.
Must have.

WLAN strength:
Numerical parameter showing current volume (e.g. with bars).
Must have.

L, C, R, SW, LS, RS, LR, RR, 5.1, 7.1:
Speaker settings (left front, center, right front subwoofer, left side, right side, left rear, right rear).
Each on/off.
Must have.

S/PDIF:
Shows is S/PDIF signal if is available.
On/off.
Must have.

Stereo, DTS, dolby digital, pro logic I/II, MP3, OGG, WMA, WAV, MPG, AC3, WMA:
Shows sound input coding.
Must have.

Propose your solution

Duplicates

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Comments

mmdolze (Administrator) wrote on the 13 Oct 11 at 06:27

Of course it should be possible to port existing drivers to the new interface. So looking at imonlcd, MD8800 and mdm166a driver's output() is necessary.

This qualifies most 'optional' settings from above to become 'must have'.

Additionally I add:
- Volume bar (required)
- WLAN strength bar (required)

wosfha wrote on the 13 Oct 11 at 22:33

OK, I had a look at these drivers, added most of their icons and changed some qualifications from "optional" to "must have".

I could not identify all icons, or was wondering about their usage (e.g. "heart"), so that I tend to introduce user defined icons for such special or exotic types.

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