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EIKON also provides a single server, which runs in its own thread. The EIKON server is used to
take control of the screen for higher-priority purposes than any normal application. The EIKON
server uses the window server’s hotkey feature to capture certain key combinations regardless of
which application is running. The EIKON server also monitors the taskbar below the screen for
application-switching buttons. The EIKON server is responsible for presenting alarm and power-
on-password dialogs to the user, for handling screen capture (in response to
shift+ctrl+alt+S
), for
launching the system help application (in response to the
help
key), for displaying error messages
from the kernel (eg for unexpected death in some application or server thread), for running code to
close down and restart all applications before and after system backup, and for application-
switching interactions with the shell.
8.2.5.3 The shell
The system shell provides a file browser, which may be used to launch applications. The shell also
controls the application launching/switching buttons on the taskbar (via the EIKON server), and
the Extras bar which slides up onto the screen and acts like an extension to the fixed buttons.
The shell showing browser
Instant display of system settings such as memory and disk usage, battery state and owner
information is provided by menu items or hotkeys from the System application.
The shell showing control panel
