The GNOME Shell provides core interface functions like switching windows, launching applications or see your notifications. It takes
 advantage of the capabilities of modern graphics hardware and introduces innovative user interface concepts to provide a
 delightful and easy to use experience. GNOME Shell is the defining technology of the GNOME 3 user experience.

The GNOME Shell redefines user interactions with the GNOME desktop. In particular, it offers new paradigms for launching applications, accessing documents, and organizing open windows in GNOME. Later, it will introduce a new applets eco-system and offer new solutions for other desktop features, such as notifications and contacts management. The GNOME Shell is intended to replace functions handled by the GNOME Panel and by the window manager in previous versions of GNOME. The GNOME Shell has rich visual effects enabled by new graphical technologies.