---
title: Microsoft Scope
date: "2003-05-23T12:00:00Z"
categories:
  - links
wp_id: 901
description: I explored Microsoft Scope, which visualizes email and alerts on a circular radar. It maps priority to the center and uses shapes to identify senders, offering a spatial, glanceable way to manage tasks and incoming messages.
keywords: [microsoft scope, information visualization, radar display, email management, microsoft research, user interface design]
---

[Scope](http://www.research.microsoft.com/adapt/scope/details.htm) is an interesting new Microsoft technology. It lets you see your e-mail, tasks, calendar and alerts on a circular panel. The items are positioned by priority around the circle (centre is more important than periphery), and the shape of the item (circle, star, etc) determines whom it's from (work, family, only to me or to other people also, etc.) See their [demo](http://www.research.microsoft.com/adapt/scope/talk/scope_geometries_01.html) to get a better idea on how it works.