[mat_jack1]

I'm very interested in visual ways to explore ebooks, papers, articles.

A physical library helps discovering new stuff or occasionally bumping in something. With files you need to be much more deliberate and I feel like you can accumulate a lot without really knowing what you have.

Even if this is a simple visualization it already gives ideas on how much more information you could convey with something similar. Like number of pages, color of the cover, to remind you of the book, different font, etc. A set of cues that can help you navigate in the list of books, at least I suspect :)

[aheilbut]

I would love a way to flexibly view and move around lots of PDFs at different scales, to simulate piles on a desk or the floor. For some purposes, something is lost by constraining organization to a regular grid or table.

[WalterBright]

When you've got thousands of books, you lose track of what you've got, just like with files.

It's not necessary to ask how I know this :-)

[mat_jack1]

Sure you lose track, but it's so much easier with physical things to bump into already seen items and recognize them. Or also casually being interested by a cover or by the size of the books.

I feel like there could be a better way to handle lots of digital books/articles/songs/films/photos/etc

[WalterBright]

Have your lock screen show a random book cover from your collection!

[BigBalli]

I'm intrigued by the idea of "bumping into something". Totally agree! How would you describe for a digital environment if it's not a pure recommendation algorithm based on similar books?

[mat_jack1]

I was thinking to a 3D representation of a library or a zoomable interface. It could leverage our good spacial memory while also allowing accidental discovery of books