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From: garye@hp-ptp.HP.COM (Gary_Ericson)
Newsgroups: comp.society.futures
Subject: Re: Trend toward personal management
Message-ID: <2190002@hp-ptp.HP.COM>
Date: 14 Apr 89 23:13:07 GMT
References: <2190001@hp-ptp.HP.COM>
Organization: HP Pacific Technology Park - Sunnyvale, Ca.
Lines: 54

> I think that if the ease of use and 
> information density that is embodied in something like a Daytimer (which
> is what I use) can be produced in a equally easy to use and information
> rich small computer/personal manager, their usage would only then become
> as pervasive as other Daytimer-like systems.  

I completely agree.  That's why I'm still using my Geodex (like a Daytimer).
Electronic Personal Managers *should* be more powerful than a paper version
(isn't a computer always better than paper? 8^), but they aren't perceived to
be - actually, they *aren't* in their current form.  You brought up two good
points: ease-of-use and information density.  It got me to thinking about other
differences.  These are just stream-of-consciousness lists.

Paper version advantages:

  can pick up and use very naturally and intuitively
  interface is already mastered by most people (handwriting)
  direct manipulation interface (flip pages by hand, write on the surface)
  instant response to writing and erasing
  high information density - writing small or drawing pictures
  can see more than one section at a time (by pulling pages out)
  instant hardcopy (pull page out)
  pre-printed forms can have smaller legible text (higher 'pixel' density)

Electronic version advantages (these *should* be the advantages with current
technology, whether or not they exist in a single device):

  neat, orderly display (no messy handwriting that's hard to read)
  cross-referencing of data by keywords or other methods
  automatic sorting
  automatic data propogation (appointment entered in day field appears in 
    month, week, year displays)
  available functions such as clock, calculator, etc.
  data organized, re-organized, copied, deleted quickly
  infinite calendar (don't have to load next month's daily forms)

Basically, the electronic version manipulates the data more quickly and easily
and provides computer-like functions like clock, calculator, currency
conversion, language translator, etc., etc., while the paper version has a much
more natural, intuitive, easy-to-use, direct manipulation interface.  

What if... (am I from HP or what? 8^) a device had an interface that was as 
good as the paper version and still retained all the other great features of 
the current electronic devices?  And it was in nearly the same price range (my
Geodex system costs approx. $200 the first time and maybe $30-$50 a year to 
replenish all the forms).  I'd buy it in a second.

The trick is that it has to be *better* than the paper version.  Make the
interface the same only better - extend the interface to allow the user to go
beyond what he/she could with the paper version.  What would that interface be
like?

Gary Ericson - System Engineering, Workstation Technology Division
               phone: (408)746-5098  mailstop: 101N  email: gary@hpdsla9.hp.com