Ubiquity Firefox Plug-In Simplifies Interactions with Web Pages

Mozilla Labs has rolled out an experimental Firefox plug-in that promises to streamline the way Web surfers manage the mountains of information online. Called Ubiquity, the proof-of-concept prototype is an experiment with two parts — it’s both an interface and a development platform, notes the plug-in’s developer, Aza Raskin.

“Ubiquity 0.1 focuses on the platform aspects while beginning to explore language-driven methods of controlling the browser,” Raskin said.

Instant Translations

The main goal of Ubiquity is to simplify the time-consuming interactions that Web surfers typically perform on the Internet today, Raskin said. “It’s even worse on mobile devices, where limited capability and fidelity makes this onerous or nearly impossible,” he added.

Browser users now must use cut and paste along with a separate Web site such as Babel Fish to translate foreign-language content on the Web. With Ubiquity, however, users simply highlight the text they wish to translate, then right-click to open a menu of commands that includes the “translate” option. The text is then automatically converted into English and inserted right onto the original Web page.

The same technique can be used to initiate a wide range of other commands, such as defining an unfamiliar word or technical term, access weather information, or even Twitter friends with the latest news. Moreover, Web developers eventually will be able to build customized Ubiquity commands to which online visitors can subscribe.

Language-Based Instructions

Ubiquity also features a separate command-line box that opens in the upper left-hand corner of any Web page whenever a user presses the Ctrl and spacebar keys simultaneously. The command line, Raskin said, empowers users to control browsers with language-based instructions.

“Let’s say you’re arranging to meet up with a friend at a restaurant and you want to include a map in the e-mail,” Rankin said. “Today, this involves the disjointed tasks of message composition on a Webmail service, mapping the address on a map site, searching for reviews on the restaurant on a search engine, and finally copying all links into the message being composed.”

The command-line box gives users a way to transform all that clicking, typing, searching, copying and pasting into very simple tasks. For example, users can type and then select the address they want, then type “map” in the command line, Raskin said.

“If you execute the command, you’ll be taken to the Google Maps page,” Raskin said. “Or you can click on the image in the preview to get a larger, interactive version. After scrolling and zooming this map to your liking, you can click the ‘insert map in page’ link to insert the map into your e-mail.”

Currently, Ubiquity only works with Google Gmail accounts. However, Raskin said there is no reason why the plug-in shouldn’t eventually work with all major Web-based e-mail providers, as well as standalone e-mail applications like Thunderbird.

Mozilla’s long-term goal for Ubiquity is to enable users to instruct the browser — whether by typing, speaking or otherwise using language — about what they want to do.

“There’s a long way to go with this interface, though,” Raskin noted. “It still needs thought and a lot of refinement.”