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(I have already proposed this idea here: http://brainstorm.ubuntu.com/idea/30622/)
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Contents

0. Used terms
1. Problem
2. Solution
2.1. Preface
2.2. Solution
2.2.1. Main idea
2.2.2. Possibility of turning on/off for all such notifications
2.2.3. Examples
2.2.3.1. Example of a window for a mouse gesture and/or a custom keyboard shortcut
2.2.3.2. Example of a window for a standard keyboard shortcut
2.2.3.3. Example of a window for a global keyboard shortcut
2.2.3.4. Example of a window for a possibility to turn on or turns off all such notifications
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0. Used terms

0.1. System – Ubuntu + user environment; in this document I mean KUbuntu 12.x.
0.2. Hotkey – a key combination for which a user via the standard application “System settings” or via a standard dialog “Configure Shortcuts” (of any application) have previously assigned a system action and/or an action of a system component or an action of an application.

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1. Problem

When a user tries to use a hotkey or input a mouse gesture, the user does not get a confirmation, that the hotkey or the gesture is properly recognized and processed by the system.

E.g.: I use a hotkey and / or a mouse gesture to copy something to clipboard. I want to be sure that the desired object (but not an object that was copied to the clipboard before) will be pasted from the clipboard on the subsequent pasting.

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Motivation

Such confirmations may be required in the following cases:

1.1. A hotkey / mouse gesture invokes a non-visual (or almost invisible) action, but a user need to be sure that the action was properly performed before he can continue.

1.1.1. Examples:

1.1.1.1. an operation of copying data to the clipboard;
1.1.1.2. an execution of a command that should be run in the background;
1.1.1.3. an operation of a saving of a document.

1.2. A hotkey / mouse gesture invokes an operation that can be noticed only some time later (i. e., a long operation). In this case, if a user uses a hotkey / mouse gesture to invoke a long operation, he has only to guess whether the requested operation is started or he mistook on the input of the hotkey / mouse gesture.

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2. Solution
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2.1. Preface

The system now already has an implementation of the concept “Event” and has an implementation of some possible ways to notify a user that a such event is occurred.

2.1.1. Examples of such events (see in “System Settings > Application and Software Notifications”):

2.1.1.1. E.g.:
Event source: Accessibility (a system component)
Event title: Sticky keys has been enabled or disabled

2.1.1.2. E.g.:
Event source: KWin Window Manager (a system component)
Event title: Activate Window

2.1.2. I suppose that there are one or more specifications and/or APIs, via which an application can:

2.1.2.1 to provide the system with a complete list of events, any of which can be invoked by this application;
2.1.2.2. to notify the system that an event (one of events, specified in 1.2.1) is just occurred in this application.

The system provides a user with an ability of customization, i. e., how to notify him that a such event is occurred.
For such customization the system provides a user with a standard set of controls:

.
The user can access this set of controls via the “System settings” (a standard application):

, as well as via the application, which is the source of the event:

.

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2.2. Description of the solution

Comment: all that is given below describes a behavior as if the solution is implemented (in fact all that is described below now is not implemented).

2.2.1. For any use of a hotkey as well as any recognition of an allowed mouse gesture, the system treats this use of a hotkey / gesture as a normal event, and therefore allows a user to assign to the event one or more notifications (any of which is of provided standard notification type).

The system provides a user with a standard set of controls:

.

2.2.2. The system provides a user with a possibility to turn on as well as to turn off all the notifications for all such events (i. e., events of use hotkeys and mouse gestures) at once.

2.2.3. Examples:

2.2.3.1. When a user configures a notification for a mouse gesture and/or a custom keyboard shortcut, a window of “System settings” might look like this:

.
2.2.3.2. When a user configures a notification for a standard keyboard shortcut, a window of “System settings” might look like this:

.
2.2.3.3. When a user configures a notification for a global keyboard shortcut, a window of “System settings” might look like this:

.
2.2.3.4. When a user turns on or turns off all the notifications for all such events (i. e., events of use hotkeys and mouse gestures) at once, a window of “System settings” might look like this:

.

That is not a bad idea but I think it must not become a default behavior (would be too much information).

Today, for custom shortcuts, you can add " & notify-send 'whatever you want displayed once the shortcut has been recognized' ".
Also, don't forget to thumbs'up your idea

[Moviuro] wrote:Today, for custom shortcuts, you can add "

Code: Select all

& notify-send

It is applicable only for actions of type "Command/URL", but not for actions of types "Send Keyboard Input" and "D-Bus Command". Therefore it not a complete solution even for custom shortcuts.