Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!seismo!sundc!pitstop!sun!amdahl!johnm
From: johnm@amdahl.uts.amdahl.com (John Murray)
Newsgroups: comp.cog-eng
Subject: Re: The Window Focus Problem
Keywords: feedback windowing interfaces
Message-ID: <dfaFK09aNA1010vk5y2@amdahl.uts.amdahl.com>
Date: 13 Dec 88 02:18:52 GMT
References: <318@aratar.UUCP> <651@sdics.ucsd.EDU> <1073@arctic.nprdc.arpa> <663@sdics.ucsd.EDU>
Organization: Amdahl Corporation, Sunnyvale CA
Lines: 23

In article <663@sdics.ucsd.EDU>, norman@sdics.ucsd.EDU (Donald A Norman-UCSD Cog Sci Dept) writes:
> I have many piles of paper on my desk and shelves, but when I wish to
> add some thoughts to one working paper, I never make the mistake of
> writing onto the wrong paper.

I don't think I agree here. When in a hurry (to note a phone number or
something), I find myself scribbling on the corner of a convenient
piece of paper without checking whether it should be "defaced" or not.
It seems there are circumstances where (some) people use whatever is
to hand - usually those who don't keep Postit pads all around them!
Of course, this is a case where one's attention is elsewhere; I usually
"add some thoughts" to the right paper, as Don says (assuming I can
find it!).

Given the subject line of this discussion, I find it odd that no-one
has mentioned the possibility of actually de-focussing the non-active
windows. I envision making them fuzzy enough to be difficult to read,
but not so much that changes and incoming messages could not be noticed.
For many terminal displays, the resolution may not be good enough to
achieve the right effect, but I haven't heard of anyone trying the idea.

- John Murray, Amdahl Corp., Sunnyvale, CA    (408) 746 6282
  ...amdahl.amdahl.com!johnm