Now, many of you have probably had dreams of making your own operating system that suits each and every of your needs and operates flawlessly while looking beautiful and sleek.  Anyone could probably think of one or more things that they would like to change about Windows 7, Snow Leopard, Linux, or any other operating system out there.  While many of us spend time dreaming and wishing that an operating system could be perfect, there are other people out there who are actually taking the initiative to make the perfect operating system.  One such person is a man named Barton Smith.  Late last year (2008), Barton Smith published his conceptualization of the future of operating systems.  He has dubbed his operating system Locus (unrelated to the Unix-based operating system of the same name developed by UCLA in the 1980s).  This article will cover some of the Locus features that are worth drooling over.

Combining cutting-edge technology with a cutting-edge operating system

These days, networking is all the craze.  Whether it has to do with local area networking, wireless networking, or wide area networking, the technology world is becoming increasingly interconnected.  Smith takes advantage of this fact by turning Locus into what he dubs a "location-based operating system".  Basically, the Locus operating system taps into Wi-Fi and GPS mapping systems to locate where the user is, seamlessly switching to user-set profiles depending on the location of the user.  For example, you can have profiles for your kitchen, living room, office, car travel, airplane travel, or any other location or activity.  When the operating system "senses" that you are in a particular location or partaking in a particular location, it will change to the corresponding profile or "panel" (as they are called in Locus) that you have made.  You can also change the panel whenever you want, so you have complete control over your operating system and your device.

Smooth and beautiful interface

One of the major pluses of Locus is that it not only has some amazing features, but it also looks beautiful.  There are currently videos of the Locus operating system concept that detail its design and functions.  Locus makes use of a system called Documents Explore, which makes for an integrated and seamless desktop experience.  Instead of opening various applications in different windows (much like the operating systems and programs of today), Locus allows users to simply touch or select documents which will then zoom to the front of the screen and the editing tools will fade in to allow you to work on the document.

With all of the great features that Barton Smith has thought up for his Locus operating system, it would be an understatement to say that this is something worth waiting for.  Personally, we can't wait for this operating system to come out (if it ever does).  Let's just hope that Smith's ideas don't get stolen before he can fully develop Locus into a working operating system.