Received: by nummer-3.proteosys id <01C19443.A5D7A154@nummer-3.proteosys>; Thu, 3 Jan 2002 11:44:40 +0100 Return-Path: MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----_=_NextPart_001_01C19443.A5D7A154" x-vm-v5-data: ([nil nil nil nil nil nil nil nil nil][nil nil nil nil nil nil nil nil nil nil nil nil nil nil nil nil]) X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft Exchange V6.5 Content-class: urn:content-classes:message Subject: Y window system Date: Wed, 1 Apr 1992 13:22:57 +0100 Message-ID: X-MS-Has-Attach: X-MS-TNEF-Correlator: From: Sender: "LaTeX-L Mailing list" To: "Multiple recipients of" Reply-To: "LaTeX-L Mailing list" Status: R X-Status: X-Keywords: X-UID: 660 This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------_=_NextPart_001_01C19443.A5D7A154 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Via: UK.AC.NSFNET-RELAY; Wed, 1 Apr 92 7:58 BST Received: from vax.nsfnet-relay.ac.uk by sun.nsfnet-relay.ac.uk with Internet SMTP id ; Tue, 24 Mar 1992 07:54:28 +0000 Received: from NSFnet-Relay.AC.UK by vax.NSFnet-Relay.AC.UK via = List-Channel id aa24442; 24 Mar 92 5:15 GMT Received: from life.ai.mit.edu by vax.NSFnet-Relay.AC.UK via NSFnet with = SMTP id aa24306; 24 Mar 92 5:08 GMT Received: from raisin-nut (raisin-nut.ai.mit.edu) by life.ai.mit.edu (4.1/AI-4.10) id AA28044; Mon, 23 Mar 92 23:24:10 EST Received: by raisin-nut (4.1/AI-4.10) id AA18367; Mon, 23 Mar 92 = 23:24:10 EST Resent-Date: Mon, 23 Mar 92 22:39:16 -0500 Subject: Y window system: beta-test release announcement The Y project team are pleased to announce the availability of the beta = test version of the Y window system. Y is the result of international = collaboration between leading computer scientists, psychologists, linguists and = ergonomists, and sets out to redress many of the problems reported by users of the X = window system, and in particular the related problems of screen clutter and = icon underload. The fundamental problem with all previous window/icon/menu systems is = the necessity to present the user with an every-increasing number of icons, as the complexity and range of tasks which the workstation is configured to support increases. Despite the improvements in technology = (particularly in the area of active-matrix displays), there is little likelihood of = monitors becoming available in the near future with major diagonals much in = excess of 19". Combined with the limits of phosphor resolution, which we are = approaching at 0.24mm, many researchers have reported that they are unable to place = all necessary icons in the screen concurrently, and are having to resort to = multi- level hierarchies of icon (`icon hiding') in order to retain legibility = while allowing for the necessary complexity of display. The Y window system (or Y, as it will be generally know) seeks to = address these problems by several interrelated improvements. These include reducing = the complexity of icons (thereby allowing the icons to be presented at a = smaller size without loss of intelligibility), and `icon chaining', a patented = system whereby icons have no meaning in isolation - instead, icons are chained together into `words' (ordered sets of icons), and the words themselves = express the desired concept. (Further developments of this technique are = already being investigated for the Z window system, in which words will be further = grouped into `sentences'). Perhaps the most revolutionary aspect of Y is that the icons are not pre-presented, thereby avoiding from the outset the problem of screen = clutter. Instead, the Y user is presented with an almost blank (i.e. uncluttered) = screen, with a vestigial icon phrase (`prompt') at the far left. Using a = digital input device, or DID, the user dynamically creates a series of icons on the screen, separated by icon delimiters or `spaces' (alternative = forms of icon separator are provided with different semantics attached to = each; for example, in the U window system, a horizontal bar represents the = assertion of the following icon, while an intersecting horizontal and vertical bar represent the retraction of the icon, in accordance with current usage. = The V window system uses a diagonal bar to indication assertion, and = requires additional icons to indicate negation or retraction). When the = icon-list is complete, the user indicates that the indicated action is to be carried = out by a further, reserved, button on the DID. One of the most significant advantages of Y over X, and other similar = systems, is that icons do not have any reserved meaning in isolation. The same = icon may occur in different contexts, and its meaning will be taken from the = context in which it appears. This context-sensitivity, although requiring = greater power in the icon-string analyser, allows an infinite set of icon groups productions to be creatable under user control; if an icon group has a predefined meaning, then use of the reserved `enter' button on the DID = will cause that meaning to be communicated to the processor; if no predefined meaning exists, the processor will indicate this to the user by means of = a further icon string, this time generated by the system. This may of = itself lead to a further icon string being generated by the user, and thus = processing continues. The Y window system has been placed in the public domain, subject only to the normal conditions of the Free Firmware Foundation. Copies may be found on all major archives and mirrors, though the exact location may vary from site to site. Potential beta testers are asked to contact = their local archive or mirror for further details on availability and = registration. [Submitted on behalf of the Free Firmware Foundation, 1 April 1992] ------_=_NextPart_001_01C19443.A5D7A154 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Y window system

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Subject: Y window system: beta-test release = announcement

The Y project team are pleased to announce the = availability of the beta test
version of the Y window system.  Y is the result = of international collaboration
between leading computer scientists, psychologists, = linguists and ergonomists,
and sets out to redress many of the problems reported = by users of the X window
system, and in particular the related problems of = screen clutter and icon
underload.

The fundamental problem with all previous = window/icon/menu systems is the
necessity to present the user with an = every-increasing number of icons,
as the complexity and range of tasks which the = workstation is configured
to support increases.  Despite the improvements = in technology (particularly
in the area of active-matrix displays), there is = little likelihood of monitors
becoming available in the near future with major = diagonals much in excess of
19".  Combined with the limits of phosphor = resolution, which we are approaching
at 0.24mm, many researchers have reported that they = are unable to place all
necessary icons in the screen concurrently, and are = having to resort to multi-
level hierarchies of icon (`icon hiding') in order to = retain legibility while
allowing for the necessary complexity of = display.

The Y window system (or Y, as it will be generally = know) seeks to address these
problems by several interrelated improvements.  = These include reducing the
complexity of icons (thereby allowing the icons to be = presented at a smaller
size without loss of intelligibility), and `icon = chaining', a patented system
whereby icons have no meaning in isolation - instead, = icons are chained
together into `words' (ordered sets of icons), and = the words themselves express
the desired concept.  (Further developments of = this technique are already being
investigated for the Z window system, in which words = will be further grouped
into `sentences').

Perhaps the most revolutionary aspect of Y is that the = icons are not
pre-presented, thereby avoiding from the outset the = problem of screen clutter.
Instead, the Y user is presented with an almost blank = (i.e. uncluttered) screen,
with a vestigial icon phrase (`prompt') at the far = left.  Using a digital
input device, or DID, the user dynamically creates a = series of icons
on the screen, separated by icon delimiters or = `spaces' (alternative forms
of icon separator are provided with different = semantics attached to each;
for example, in the U window system, a horizontal bar = represents the assertion
of the following icon, while an intersecting = horizontal and vertical bar
represent the retraction of the icon, in accordance = with current usage.  The
V window system uses a diagonal bar to indication = assertion, and requires
additional icons to indicate negation or = retraction).  When the icon-list is
complete, the user indicates that the indicated = action is to be carried out
by a further, reserved, button on the DID.

One of the most significant advantages of Y over X, = and other similar systems,
is that icons do not have any reserved meaning in = isolation.  The same icon
may occur in different contexts, and its meaning will = be taken from the context
in which it appears.  This context-sensitivity, = although requiring greater
power in the icon-string analyser, allows an infinite = set of icon groups
productions to be creatable under user control; if an = icon group has a
predefined meaning, then use of the reserved `enter' = button on the DID will
cause that meaning to be communicated to the = processor; if no predefined
meaning exists, the processor will indicate this to = the user by means of a
further icon string, this time generated by the = system.  This may of itself
lead to a further icon string being generated by the = user, and thus processing
continues.

The Y window system has been placed in the public = domain, subject only
to the normal conditions of the Free Firmware = Foundation.  Copies may be
found on all major archives and mirrors, though the = exact location may
vary from site to site.  Potential beta testers = are asked to contact their
local archive or mirror for further details on = availability and registration.

[Submitted on behalf of the Free Firmware Foundation, = 1 April 1992]

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