Watch web video while getting work done with Double Vision
Have a boring data entry job that's going to take a few hours (or a lifetime) and looking for a way to make it more interesting? Double Vision lets you watch online videos while conducting other business with your computer.
Here's how it works: You launch Double Vision and a standalone web browser based on Internet Explorer opens. Find a video you want to watch and then click the "Double Vision" button. Most of the browser's navigation toolbars will disappear and all you'll see is the video, a transparency slider and two buttons. Slide the transparency bar all the way to the right and the video becomes opaque, slide it all the way to the left and you won't see it at all. When it's somehwere in the middle you'll be able to see the spreadsheet or other documents you've been working on under the video.
You can click the X button to return to browser's normal mode, or hit the other button if you want to drag and drop the video window to another location. All other clicks in the browser window will go unregistered. In other words, you won't just be able to see whatever's lying under the video, you'll be able to input data, edit documents or watch two movies at once if that's your cup of tea.
Double Vision is optimized to work with a handful of online video sites including Hulu, YouTube, and Netflix. That means when you load a video using the browser from one of these sites, the video will expand to the size of the browser so you aren't stuck looking at a video surrounded by text.
You can also hit Ctrl + Esc to hide the video quickly, which could come in handy if you're using Double Vision at work and you forgot to tell the boss about your ingenious new discovery.
[via The How To Geek]
Here's how it works: You launch Double Vision and a standalone web browser based on Internet Explorer opens. Find a video you want to watch and then click the "Double Vision" button. Most of the browser's navigation toolbars will disappear and all you'll see is the video, a transparency slider and two buttons. Slide the transparency bar all the way to the right and the video becomes opaque, slide it all the way to the left and you won't see it at all. When it's somehwere in the middle you'll be able to see the spreadsheet or other documents you've been working on under the video.
You can click the X button to return to browser's normal mode, or hit the other button if you want to drag and drop the video window to another location. All other clicks in the browser window will go unregistered. In other words, you won't just be able to see whatever's lying under the video, you'll be able to input data, edit documents or watch two movies at once if that's your cup of tea.
Double Vision is optimized to work with a handful of online video sites including Hulu, YouTube, and Netflix. That means when you load a video using the browser from one of these sites, the video will expand to the size of the browser so you aren't stuck looking at a video surrounded by text.
You can also hit Ctrl + Esc to hide the video quickly, which could come in handy if you're using Double Vision at work and you forgot to tell the boss about your ingenious new discovery.
[via The How To Geek]













Comments
11
Subscribe to commentsJasonFeb 16th 2009 3:56PM
This seems like a really dumb idea. How could anyone stand to do any work with a movie playing over top of your program? Likewise how could anyone stand to watch a movie with a spreadsheet showing through the background? Either watch the movie or don't, trying to do both at once is silly.
WestFeb 16th 2009 10:34PM
I think this is slightly better than having a tv show or movie playing in the background while you're only hearing the audio. I'm sure this isn't for those exciting shows, just the ones you watch to help pass the time.
SonicFeb 17th 2009 7:21AM
I agree, it does seem kind of pointless. I'd rather just have the video playing next to whatever I'm working on (since I have a widescreen monitor).
Quattroporte Sport GT SFeb 16th 2009 10:34PM
That wouldn't mind having that to use with my TV tuner.
QuattroporteFeb 16th 2009 10:34PM
Maybe if they expand on it, you can surf the web, play solitaire, watch YouTube, and watch TV all at once.
supernova_hqFeb 18th 2009 3:06AM
Wow, I've been doing this in linux using compiz's "tranparency" plugin for years. Except I can make ANYTHING change to ANY transparency.
Way to try to catch up windows...
Muffin_manFeb 17th 2009 1:16PM
Frankly it's a feature that isn't really much use and something Windows can do without.
supernova_hqFeb 19th 2009 4:20PM
Actually, you'd be surprised just how useful it can be. I do a lot of command line stuff, and being able to set the cmd background to 25% transparency and have some code in a browser below is VERY useful.
CowmanFeb 16th 2009 10:34PM
We can already do this with linux and compiz. Alt+Wheel mouse down changes the transperancy of a window, then right the bar you use to move windows and select "always on top" done. These techniques are for Ubuntu 8.04 LTS they can vary from distrobution to distrobution.
TroyFeb 17th 2009 4:38PM
I do this already, but the opposite way. I use one of the many free programs that make any window transparent. I then open a movie in the background and watch it through the transparent working window in the front.
hazardFeb 18th 2009 7:58AM
Now that's cool .. still incredibly distracting but cool :)