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From: gig@ritcv.UUCP (gordon )
Newsgroups: net.cog-eng
Subject: Re: default menu item selection
Message-ID: <1521@ritcv.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 6-Feb-85 22:40:42 EST
Article-I.D.: ritcv.1521
Posted: Wed Feb  6 22:40:42 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 9-Feb-85 08:23:20 EST
References: <722@ihuxa.UUCP> <778@sdcsla.UUCP> <1336@orca.UUCP>
Organization: Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY
Lines: 27

> Keywords:pop-up,menu 
> 
> 
> The debate on pop-up menus (pums) is a symptom of a fundamental flaw in 
> current computer systems. Not enough screen space to hold a complete 
> work space. No more need be said about the analogy of the tty screen to
> a desk top. Or the attempts to mimic a desk top with a clever interface...
> My point is pums wouldn't be needed if there was enough electronic
> workspace to have all necessary menus and the task at hand visible at 
> all times.... 
> Current window packages already provide the software methods to manage 
> multiple screens. It will be only a matter of time before some daring
> young company breaks out of the single screen mentality. It will be
> like breaking a dam. 
> 
> Ken Warner... somewhere in the northwest.

Computer systems designed for clearly defined tasks such as CAD/CAM often use 
multiple display devices already but more general purpose systems face a
paradigmatic problem.  Multiple displays seems analogous to replacing a database
with file cards pasted all over the walls like wall paper.  The window or pum is
an abstraction that actually simplifies and improves the quality of interaction
by reducing complexity of interaction.  Or did I miss your point. It is not
conceivable to me that I would want to clutter my working environment with 
displays.  That would not be using a system to manage complexity.

Gordon Goodman...Rochester Institute of Technology