🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <1992Feb22.063011.709@m.cs.uiuc.edu> coolidge@cs.uiuc.edu writes:
>From comp.newprod:

>>Newsgroups: comp.newprod
>>Subject: MOMENTA PENTOP computer volume shipments in the US and Europe
>>Message-ID: <92133@mcdchg.chg.mcd.mot.com>

>>MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., February 6, 1992
> [...]
>>  A key part of the Momenta applications interface is the Command
>>Compass.  This patented feature allows users to manipulate or modify
>>information simply by stroking the pen in specified directions on the
>>screen, thereby eliminating the ambiguity of gesture-based systems.

>From what I've read about the Command Compass, it's an implementation
>of pie menus for pen-based systems. 

I haven't seen Momenta's system, so I cannot comment for sure.  I did
spend some time using a pie-menus system that had been implemented in
NeWS.  I can imagine that that would easily fit into a pen-based
system, and I can imagine that they "innovation" of using a pen
instead of a mouse might qualify it for a patent.  There are specific
sequences of clicks and drags that may be used to get different
effects in pie menus, and Momenta might have altered those to suit the
constraints of pen IO.

However, the following ideas are embodied in pie menus, and I am told
that they are in the public domain.

(1) (in slow mode) action follows clicks -- ease of use by people with
poor coordination is built in, because nothing happens unless you
click.

(2) the entire screen is your menu, sliced like a pie.  Again, this is
a big assistance to someone with poor coordination.  Think about using
one of these on a train, for instance.

(3) there is a fast mode, the particulars of which I do not remember,
but it was amazing to see it in use by an expert.  I came close to
gaining this level of expertise once, but then I switched back to a
more standard window system.

I was told by Don Hopkins (formerly of Sun, formerly of U Maryland)
that he was one of the developers of pie menus, that they studied
their use by "naive" and "skilled" users, and found them to be a good
user interface.  Furthermore, Don told me that he was offered the
opportunity to get them patented or intellectually protected in some
way, and he decided not to -- no patents, no copyrights.  Papers
published by people at the U of Maryland ought to describe the
interface in more detail (I don't know the names of the papers, but
Don gave me the impression that papers had been published.  I'll go
flipping through my issues of TOG to see if I can find anything.)

If the FSF is serious about building tools for "ordinary" people, and
wants to stay well clear of legal hassles, I'd imagine that pie menus
would fill the bill.  I can also imagine that they would really suit
pen-based (and other highly mobile) systems.  If I wanted to build a
pen-based system, I'd consider slavishly following the interface
described in the UMD papers, and see if anyone dared to take me into
court.

I'll post better references if I can find them.  Hopkins, are you out
there?

David Chase
Sun