Alex Faaborg and Aza Raskin of Mozilla Labs explore the possibilities of a chromeless browser interface. It’s an engaging discussion not only around browser conventions but graphical user interface conventions in general:
One of the most treacherous things an interface designer can do is rethink well-recognized and well-understood conventions – no matter how “bad” they are from a design perspective. Alex and Aza rightly point out the inefficiency of making the mouse pointer travel all the way up to the top left of the browser chrome for Forward and Back buttons. Still, everyone knows how to do it.and do it well.
It’s a tricky proposition, but alas, this is where innovation happens. If they’re able to get it right, it might sting at first, but everyone will ultimately benefit. After all, if designers completely adhered to conventions, there would be no real progress, nor the occasional revolutionary stroke in design.