Mozilla Labs has rolled out an experimental Firefox plug-in that promises to streamline the way Web surfers manage the mountains of data 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 World Wide Web today, Raskin said. “It’s even worse on mobile devices, where limited capability and fidelity makes that 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 substance on the Web. With Ubiquity, however, users simply highlight the text they wish to translate, next right-click to open a menu

of commands that includes the “translate” option. The text is thereupon 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 knowledge, 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 directions

Ubiquity additionally 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 directions.

“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, that involves the disjointed tasks of note…

Original post by dhiram