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From: mel@mtfmi.att.com (M.HAAS)
Newsgroups: comp.windows.misc,comp.sys.next,comp.sys.mac,comp.cog-eng
Subject: Re: replacing the desktop metaphor (Why any metaphor?)
Keywords: desktop metaphor, graphical interfaces, computing environments
Message-ID: <850@mtfmi.att.com>
Date: 25 Dec 88 06:43:12 GMT
Reply-To: mel@mtfmi.att.com (M.HAAS)
Organization: AT&T, Middletown NJ
Lines: 59
References:

Let's take one step back and see if there is a metaphor or analogy to
what we are trying to do (find a better way to couple a computer
system to its human user).  Explore the history of other tools and
see how they solved the control/presentation problems.  Planes, cars,
machine tools, earth movers, cranes, calculators, ..... ?  I can't
think of any that use a metaphor (I have seen pictures of early cars
that used reins or boat tillers).

While the "desk top" seems to be a neat approach, and has sold a lot
of workstations, it seems to me to that it gets into the way much
more than it helps.  I don't spend significant time putting things
into folders and wastebaskets (maybe I should be :) ), and my real
desktop is 80% covered by non-computer stuff (coffee cup, jar of
pennies, stapler, WEBELOS handbook, roll of duct tape, bicycle
helmet, lots of bills and invoices, several tape cassettes, etc.).
And, I do a whole lot of things with the computer that have no
analogy whatever to a "desk" (run the C compiler?  start the
debugger?  rearrange a spreadsheet?  ???).

The "rooms" approach is worse (it doesn't even work in an art museum,
where that is isn't even a metaphor - at least, it doesn't work for
me - I always get lost).  The "movie screen" metaphor doesn't grab me
either.  The only multi-facet movie presentations I remember are
various sequences in "To Fly", and they all raised my adrenalin level
and prevented satisfactory examination of any one facet (notice that
the sales of multi-facet TV sets is nil).  Similarly for the "newspaper"
display - I tend to focus just on the column I am reading.  And,
notice the relatively high sales of similar material in much smaller,
more focused format (Daily News, National Enquirer, Reader's Digest,
Time).  Before (or while) searching for multi-mega-buck giant
and 3-D displays, how about finding control mechanisms for
19" high-res screens?

Is the metaphor search an attempt to extend the usefulness of
pointing input devices?  i.e. makeup for the deficiency in human
anatomy that doesn't allow both pointing and typing?  The helicopter
has the same problem.  The pilot needs one hand (and two feet) to
control motion in the translation plane, and the other hand to
control vertical motion.  Thus it is difficult to tune radios, set
the altimeter and gyros, aim lights, read maps, etc.  The solutions
for the helicopter case are: have multiple crew members, use an
auto-pilot to stabilize/lock some of the controls, and install
multiple extra control widgets on the control handles.  One of my
computer terminals has a scrollback memory for each window, but only
a mouse to activate it.  This makes the feature almost useless, since
the only time I want it is when my fingers are on the keyboard.
Similarly, moving about while text editing in any metaphor is
tedious, as is adding headings while drawing.  Doug Englebart and
others tried a one-handed keyboard to go with the mouse.  Others have
tried a foot operated trackball.  Could it be that there isn't a
solution?  They haven't found one for helicopters in 50 years of
trying.

Does having a metaphor extend the usefulness of the computer?
(I know it makes simple things easier to learn, and adds sales pizzaz
- worthwhile goals, but not the theme of these recent articles).
Is searching for a metaphor a good approach to solving the problem?

    Mel Haas  ,  attmail!mel