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From: ken@hertz.njit.edu (ken ng cccc)
Newsgroups: comp.editors
Subject: Re: What do writers want from a word processor?
Message-ID: <1991May2.124351.20927@njitgw.njit.edu>
Date: 2 May 91 12:43:51 GMT
References: <3097@wn1.sci.kun.nl> <1991Apr30.205205.6328@njitgw.njit.edu> <12686@dog.ee.lbl.gov>
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In article <12686@dog.ee.lbl.gov> torek@elf.ee.lbl.gov (Chris Torek) writes:
:In article <1991Apr30.205205.6328@njitgw.njit.edu> ken@hertz.njit.edu
:>Making the application "pretty" as opposed to functional.
:It all boils down to the fact that using an existing object as a
:reference model makes it easier to `think about' the new technology,
:but it also acts as a trap: it keeps people from considering
:alternatives.

Granted, I just wanted to reinforce my basic idea with another example
of just because you use a model does not mean you should copy the limitations
of the model.

FLAME MODE ON

Word processors, in theory they were modeled after typewriters right?
Gee, as I type, should I see a black metal ball come up from the bottom
of the screen and stike each letter?  If I backspace and change a
character, should the erasure only erase most of the character leaving
old bits behind?  And should the new character only show up part way so
that I have to go back and restrike the character several times?  Or
should I mouse in a strip of eraseing tape over the character I want to
change, then type the wrong character, then mouse the erasing tape away,
and then type the correct character?  Or should I mouse over to a container
of whiteout, unscrew the top, mouse the top over to the character to
white out, drag the top over the character I want to white out.  And
of course if I want to white out another character I have to mouse back
over and reinsert the top back into the jar, or the white out top should
white out less and less bits (to simulate the top running out of white
out).  And of course if I hesitate before using the whiteout, it should
drop a drop of electronic whiteout somewhere on the page.

I'll leave insertion, deletion, right justification, spell checking,
indexing, symbolic references, having the page slowly tilt sideways,
etc, as an exercise for the reader.

FLAME MODE OFF

You know, if this wasn't comp.editors, a program that really did the
above would almost be funny in the 'check this program out' arena.


Kenneth Ng
"No problem, this is how you make it" -- R. Barclay, ST: TNG