Xref: utzoo comp.windows.misc:788 comp.sys.next:968 comp.sys.mac:24296
Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!husc6!bloom-beacon!apple!casseres
From: casseres@Apple.COM (David Casseres)
Newsgroups: comp.windows.misc,comp.sys.next,comp.sys.mac
Subject: Re: replacing the desktop metaphor
Keywords: desktop metaphor, graphical interfaces, computing environments
Message-ID: <353@internal.Apple.COM>
Date: 22 Dec 88 17:33:52 GMT
References: <4362@pitt.UUCP> <257@gloom.UUCP> <82702@sun.uucp> <12417@garnet.BBN.COM> <17917@glacier.STANFORD.EDU>
Organization: Apple Computer Inc, Cupertino, CA
Lines: 13

In article <17917@glacier.STANFORD.EDU> jbn@glacier.UUCP (John B. Nagle) writes:
>
>       One can get carried away with mapping information into an illusion of
>physical reality.

Yes indeed.  The most striking thing about the "desktop" in the Lisa/Mac
user interface is how little it resembles an actual desk top: just enough
to provide familiarity and some intuitive operations.

Metaphor is a very limited tool in user-interface design, and has to be
used with great restraint.

David Casseres