2. History

Question 1

Name the major events from the technology timeline.

Answer 1

1945: Vannevar Bush: As we may think: MEMEX
1963: Ivan Sutherland: Sketchpad
1964: Douglas Engelbart: Mouse as pointing device
1969: Ivan Sutherland: VR, HMD
1973: Xerox Alto: implementation of a GUI
1984: Apple Macintosh: first commercially successful GUI

Question 2

Name from a User perspective the changes in Interfaces.

Answer 2

50: HW level for engineers: experimental, specific tasks
60/70: programming level: Batch/offline mode
70/80: terminal level: timesharing/test terminal
80/90: interaction dialog level: Raster graphics
00: work setting: multimedia graphics
10: pervasive, everywhere: mobile, wearables, …

Question 3

What are some lessons learned from the history?

Answer 3

You cannot hide the UI

The first isn’t necessarily the most successful one

Question 4

Name Characteristics of GUI.

Answer 4

Replacement of Command-Language
Direct manipulation of the object of interest
Continues visibility of the object/action of interest
Graphical metaphors
Windows, icons menus and pointers