Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site alberta.UUCP
Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!microsoft!uw-beaver!ubc-visi!alberta!chris
From: chris@alberta
Newsgroups: net.cog-eng
Subject: Re: Long names and menus
Message-ID: <7@alberta.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 4-Dec-83 05:39:17 EST
Article-I.D.: alberta.7
Posted: Sun Dec  4 05:39:17 1983
Date-Received: Thu, 8-Dec-83 20:42:08 EST
References: <19001@wivax.UUCP>
Organization: U. of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
Lines: 28

Human beings are amazingly adaptable computing machines. They are able to
see the need for, develop, and use effectively, special-purpose modes of
communication keyed to the task at hand. Computer command languages and
programming languages are examples. A person who uses a computer a lot
will in general know what he/she wants to do, and will want a short, concise
way of stating it. The beauty of computers is that they can be tuned to
vary the conciseness, etc. from user to user. Command languages will not
go away - they are simply far too useful. They will undoubtedly change a
lot, possibly including aural input, tactile input, maybe even brainwave
input, but they will continue to exist and to evolve.

My terminal runs at 19,200 baud, which menu supporters would probably
consider quite adequate for menu-driven applications. I don't like waiting
for it to do anything, and menu's would certainly irritate me because they
are not effectively instantaneous (less than 1/100 second). I'm partly
biased in this by having used a Courier terminal on an Amdahl, which is
rewritten VERY quickly over a coax cable. On such a system, menus would
probably be tolerable for applications I don't use much.

I also worry about the latest fad - the desktop metaphor. It seems great
now, but what relevance will it have in a couple of years to a beginning
user who has never used a real desk? (Flat writing surfaces yes, but not
an organized desk with drawers, IN and OUT baskets, a properly placed
garbage can, etc.)

	Chris Gray
	...uw-beaver!ubc-vision!alberta!chris