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From: seah@ee.rochester.edu (David Seah)
Newsgroups: comp.cog-eng
Subject: Noun-Verb vs Verb-Noun
Message-ID: <1990Jul16.214644.3009@ee.rochester.edu>
Date: 16 Jul 90 21:46:44 GMT
Reply-To: seah@ee.rochester.edu
Organization: University of Rochester Department of Electrical Engineering
Lines: 38

I'm interested in finding an article or book that compares the relative
virtues of using a noun-verb command structure (ala the Apple Finder) versus
a verb-noun structure (like workstation-based CAD programs I've come across).
I've been searching around Computer-Human Interaction type subjects, but I
suspect I should start looking into psychology more.  Any pointers?  --- One
of the benefits of a noun-verb or object-action command structure, according
to the Apple Human Interface Guidelines, is that the "paradigm matches the
syntax that we normally use in ordinary noncomputer actions:  'Hey, you...'
(selection) '...do this' (choose an action)."  Is this really the case? I
tend to think that this syntax comes with a certain way of thinking about the
computer system in general.  With the noun-verb paradigm, the computer is
treated as an unintelligent box.  You must alert the computer, by nature a
dull and listless creature, by playing with the objects on the screen to
attact its attention (selection).  You then command the bitbox to do
something with those objects (choose an action).  The "ordinary noncomputer"
syntax seems suited for playing with the dog than with other people.  

The verb-noun paradigm seems to be more geared toward the notion of
an intelligent computer.  It's certainly more interactive, where the
computer is on a footing equal to yourself (sort of :)  You say, "Arrange
those boxes!"(choose an action).  The computer responds, "which boxes?"
(selection).  Then it does it.  Or perhaps it doesn't, which is more
realistic.

Is the idea of a subordinate computer the idea behind the noun-verb paradigm?
Personally, I like noun-verb better because it doesn't commit the user toward
performing an action, like not letting go of a chess piece until you're
really decided on your course of action.  It's also a little like my RPN HP
calculator in that it saves "user-strokes".  Verb-noun command structures
tend to wallow in obscure modes, and are tedious to use because they are
more suited toward the batch-processing mentality.

Sorry if these topics were covered in Basic Cog-Sci 101...I'm a EE
that is just getting interested in these topics.
-- 
Dave Seah |       Omnidyne Systems-M         | INET: seah@ee.rochester.edu
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