Subject oriented computing, new approaches to user interface and... Topic Maps


During last years we saw several interesting attempts to implement new user interface. Trick here is that just moving existing application centric computing model to 3D world will not do it...

It is nice to have shrinking/extending/rotating application windows or "3D room paradigm" but true paradigm shift is a shift to subject based computing.

I am thinking about several technologies/ideas which can help in building new user interface for subject oriented computing.

1. Marvin Minsky's concept of K-Lines ("Society Of Mind"). This theory of memory tries to explain how people can remember and use memories in solving new problems and addressing new situations.

"...Whenever you "get a good idea", solve a problem, or have a memorable experience, you activate K-line to "represent" it. A K-line is a wirelike structure that attaches itself to whichever mental agents are active when you solve a problem or have a good idea.

When you activate that K-line later, the agents attached to it are aroused, putting you into a "mental state" much like the one you were in when you solved that problem or got that idea...."

This theory can provide some insight into dynamic nature of subject proxy maps. According to this theory activation of some subject proxy leads to activation of some other subject proxies based on connections between proxies. At any moment of time different proxies can have different activation level. When we change our focus from one subject to another activation level is also changed.

2. Treemaps "... Treemap is a space-constrained visualization of hierarchical structures. It is very effective in showing attributes of a leaf nodes using size and color coding..." If we combine K-Lines with treemaps we can get very interesting result, I think. We can connect size of treemap items with subject proxy activation level and to use color to represent changes in activation level. Treemaps also can be very good for representing hierarchy of subject proxies.

3. Jef Raskin's concept of "applicationless" user interface . "...The idea of an application is an artificial one, convenient to the programmer but not to the user. From a user's point of view there is a content (a set of objects created or obtained by the user) and there are commands that can operate on objects....". Concept of "Zooming " is also extremely interesting from perspective of subject oriented computing.



Posted: Sat - September 25, 2004 at 02:02 PM      

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