User:Yiorgos Bagakis/Essays/The

28.10.2010 Don Gentner & Jakob Nielson THE ANTI-MAC INTERFACE (1996)

The text was written in 1996; and indeed, still in 2010 we still seem settled (or even stuck) on the WIMP model (Windows, Icons, Menus, Pointer) of computer interface. We assume that this model is perfect and set - but, this text argues, that the case should be different.

Mathematicians and Physicists often imagine a world where basic principles are violated (antigravity, non-Euclidean geometry). These violation not only work as a mental excersise but help to form very useful descriptions of the world.

Humans need simplified models of representation in order to understand complicated concepts. An other example is the world - the concept of universe and cosmos. We often see simplified two domentional diagrams (eg maps) to help us comprehend abstract and highly complicated systems (think also of how we view earth - the essence of location or existence is through 2d maps)

So lets examine the types of interfaces that could result if we violate each of the Macintosh (this could basically work for Windows 7, Ubuntu Gnome, Mac OS or any contemporary Operating system's graphical interface, since little has changed since '96, when the article was written)

• • VERY INTERESTING CHALLENGE - MATERIAL FOR A PERSONAL PROJECT>>>WHAT IF...

The established model of human interface - which was pioneered by Macintosh computers (late 80s / early 90s) was designed under the following constraints: