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From: mll@aio.jsc.nasa.gov (Mark Littlefield)
Newsgroups: comp.society.futures
Subject: Re: GUI vs Text (was Re: Virtual Manipulation)
Message-ID: <1991Jun6.182700.5422@aio.jsc.nasa.gov>
Date: 6 Jun 91 18:27:00 GMT
References: <6gH233w164w@bluemoon.uucp> <1991Jun5.181727.17833@nas.nasa.gov>
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In article <1991Jun5.181727.17833@nas.nasa.gov>, uselton@nas.nasa.gov (Samuel P. Uselton) writes:
(Lots of stuff.....)

I have to disagree with a large part of what you discribe Sam.  I too
have been using and programming computers for 15 years (I started when
I was 13), yet, I use GUI's almost exclusivly.

Computers are a tool in my profession.  Not an end but rather a means
to an end.  If I am to accomplish my task I need to have tools that
are easy to use, quick to learn and that can provide me with the
information that I need at a glance.  

For instance, when I'm debugging a piece of code, I use xdbx or xxgdb.
This gives me the ability of displaying a large amount of information
while having pushbutton control over the instructions that I want to
perform.  Granted, there are times when I have to resort to the
command line to do some of the mode exotic functions, but that is the
result of trying to shoehorn a text based program into a GUI
environment, not a failure of the GUI paradigm.

Another good example is document processing.  Sure I can use TeX or
one of its infinite variations to produce a resonable document, but
it's trial and error in the development.  I would much rather use a
WYSIWYG editor with a strong set of style sheets and macros.  Not only
can I get the job done much faster, but it's much less wearing on my
nerves and it doesn't use nearly as much paper.

If I was interesed in learning every little back alley, every little
command sequence that UNIX had to offer, then I would probably avoid
GUI's like the plague.  I am interested in building vision systems for
robots and this workstation I am on is just a tool to help me in that
task.  If there is anything that can make that task faster and less
painfull, believe me, I would use it.

=====================================================================
Mark L. Littlefield               Automation and Robotics Division
internet: mll@aio.jsc.nasa.gov       Intelligent Systems Branch
USsnail:  Lockheed Engineering and Sciences 
          2400 Nasa Rd 1 / MS 19            
          Houston, TX 77058-3711
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