Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Path: utzoo!utgpu!water!watmath!clyde!rutgers!mit-eddie!think!ames!oliveb!pyramid!decwrl!spar!taw
From: taw@spar.UUCP
Newsgroups: comp.windows.misc
Subject: Re: Icons, pipes, etc.
Message-ID: <2062@spar.SPAR.SLB.COM>
Date: Fri, 5-Jun-87 13:17:32 EDT
Article-I.D.: spar.2062
Posted: Fri Jun  5 13:17:32 1987
Date-Received: Sat, 6-Jun-87 19:40:42 EDT
References: <8705190042.AA14664@cogsci.berkeley.edu>
Reply-To: taw@spar.UUCP (Tom Wadlow)
Organization: Schlumberger Palo Alto Research - CASLAB
Lines: 22

>Pipes are simple now. for 'ls -l a b | pr >/dev/lp', you do:
>        double-click ls
>        double-click pr
>        drag pr output icon to printer icon
>	 drag ls output icon to pr input icon
>        select a and b and drag them to ls input icon

Not quite so.  This approach seems to require a lot more
physical movement by the person using it.  Typing the command
is almost effortless.  I don't mean this as a condemnation of
window/icon systems in favor of command-line interpreters, but
I am interested in finding a visual paradigm that is *at least*
as easy and powerful for simple and complicated tasks as a CLI.

My major problem with this paradigm is verifiability.  Suppose, just
before the final step, I suddenly think that I've made an error.
With the CLI version, I can re-read the command, and see if it looks
right.  With your approach, there is no evident control flow.  You
set up the right abstract pattern on the screen, and the right things
happen.  If you get the pattern right....

--Tom