2 months ago
- The article explores an alternative to the WIMP interface called the Anti-Mac interface, which emphasizes language, rich object representations, expert users, and shared control.
- It critiques Macintosh design principles like metaphors, direct manipulation, see-and-point, and consistency, arguing they limit innovation and adaptability for future users.
- Key Anti-Mac principles include a central role for language (though not full natural language understanding), richer internal and external object representations, more expressive interfaces, targeting expert users, and shared control between users and systems.
- The article highlights the mutual reinforcement of design principles and how they align with evolving user needs, such as networked environments and vast information objects.
- Examples like the World Wide Web and agents illustrate the benefits of shared control and adaptability over stability and user-only control.
- It concludes by advocating for integrated, bottom-up redesigns to leverage advancing hardware capabilities, rather than retrofitting features onto existing interfaces.