Ribbon (computing)
In computer interface design, a ribbon is a graphical control element in the form of a set of toolbars placed on several tabs.
Use of a ribbon interface dates from the early 1990s in productivity software such as Microsoft Word and WordStar[1] as an alternative term for toolbar: It was defined as a portion of a graphical user interface consisting of a horizontal row of graphical control elements (e.g., including buttons of various sizes and drop-down lists containing icons), typically user-configurable.
1990)[5] and the first Windows-based versions (activated by the "View |Ribbon" menu option[6]), for which early advertising referred to the use of "the Ribbon to replace an endless string of commands to let you format characters by eye instead of memory".
The fourth wave of Windows Live Essentials applications, including Mail, Photo Gallery, Movie Maker and Writer, featured a ribbon.
[20][21] In June 2008, Red Flag Software released RedOffice 4.0 beta, a Chinese fork of OpenOffice.org including a new user interface that used many ribbon ideas in its design.
Jeff Atwood thought the new system made menus obsolete as a cornerstone of the WIMP interface when it was first revealed in 2005.
"[30] Richard Ericson from Computerworld noted that experienced users might find difficulties adapting to the new interface, and that some tasks take more key-presses or clicks to activate.
[8] Though the ribbon can be hidden by double-clicking on the open tab, PC World wrote that the ribbons crowds the Office work area, especially for notebook users;[31] the customization options available in the original version didn't allow users to rearrange or remove the predefined commands, although it could be minimized.
[34] The decision to abolish menus has been likened to the Coca-Cola company's infamous New Coke campaign in its abandonment of the existing user base.
[36] Proponents of free software, such as KDE developer Jarosław Staniek,[37] have expressed beliefs that patents regarding ribbons cannot be acquired due to the ubiquity of prior art.
[37] Staniek notes that the ribbon concept has historically appeared extensively as "tabbed toolbars" in applications such as Sausage Software HotDog, Macromedia HomeSite, Dreamweaver, and Borland Delphi.
