The Xerox “Star” A Retrospective By Bruno Nadeau & Luv Sharma

Overview What is the “Star” Features – What Makes it Unique History of Star Development Xerox PARC Lessons Learned

What is the “Star” April 1981, 8010 “Star” Information System Office Automation System –Produce. Retrieve. Distribute. Organize Getting Work Done Vs Interest in the Machine Invisible –Document, Business Graphics, Tables, Personal Data-base, Electronic Mail No Concept of Software, OS, Applications or Programs Casual User / Easy to Learn Unique –Bitmapped Screen, Windows, Mouse-Driven Interface, Icons

Features Machine and Network Level –Architecture and Hardware with the Software in Mind Window and File Manager Level –Visual Organization and Data Integration User-Interface Level –User perception and Interaction Document Editor Level –WYSIWYG and document as core

Machine and Network Level Distributed, Personal Computing –Vs Time-Shared and Stand-Alone Mouse –Pointing Device Vs Command-Line –Relative Pointing Device –Handled at Low-Level –Two Buttons Bit-mapped Display –Vs Character-Mapped –72 ppi

Machine and Network Level Distributed, Personal Computing –Vs Time-Shared and Stand-Alone Mouse –Pointing Device Vs Command-Line –Relative Pointing Device –Handled at Low-Level –Two Buttons Bit-mapped Display –Vs Character-Mapped –72 ppi

Window and File Manager Level Windows –Simultaneous Display of Information –Overlap Integrated Applications –Different types of information edited in one document –Star was not fully integrated Spreadsheets Freehand Drawings

User-Interface Level Desktop Metaphor –Office Analogy –Data File Vs Programs –Vs Tool Metaphor Generic Commands –Reduce the number of commands –Move, Copy, Open, Delete, Show Properties, Same –Possible because of exact object selection –Remove synonym confusion Direct Manipulation / GUI –Recognition Vs Recall –Menus Vs Commands –Direct actions on system state and data

User-Interface Level Desktop Metaphor –Office Analogy –Data File Vs Programs –Vs Tool Metaphor Generic Commands –Reduce the number of commands –Move, Copy, Open, Delete, Show Properties, Same –Possible because of exact object selection –Remove synonym confusion Direct Manipulation / GUI –Recognition Vs Recall –Menus Vs Commands –Direct actions on system state and data

When everything in a computer system is visible on the screen, the display becomes reality. Tesler, L. “The Smalltalk Environment” Byte August 1981, 6(8), pages

User-Interface Level Icons –Visual representation of the content –Concrete Spatial Organization Few Modes –Constancy of Allowed User-Actions –Simultaneous Applications –Noun-Verb Vs Verb-Noun –Indicate the Mode of the System Object Properties Progressive Disclosure –Hide unnecessary functionalities till needed Consistency –Ex. Mouse interaction

User-Interface Level Icons –Visual representation of the content –Concrete Spatial Organization Few Modes –Constancy of Allowed User-Actions –Simultaneous Applications –Noun-Verb Vs Verb-Noun –Indicate the Mode of the System Progressive Disclosure –Hide unnecessary functionalities till needed Consistency –Ex. Mouse interaction Object Properties

User-Interface Level Strong Emphasis on Screen Design –Illusion of Manipulability –Visual Order and User Focus –Revealed Structure –Consistent and Appropriate Graphic Vocabulary –Match the Medium Ex. Anti-Aliasing

User-Interface Level Strong Emphasis on Screen Design –Illusion of Manipulability –Visual Order and User Focus –Revealed Structure –Consistent and Appropriate Graphic Vocabulary –Match the Medium Ex. Anti-Aliasing

User-Interface Level Strong Emphasis on Screen Design –Illusion of Manipulability –Visual Order and User Focus –Revealed Structure –Consistent and Appropriate Graphic Vocabulary –Match the Medium Ex. Anti-Aliasing

Document Editor Level WYSIWYG Document Editor –Display as they will be printed –Ex. Mathematical Formulas Extended Character Set For Multilingual Capability –16-bit Character Code Core Document

Document Editor Level WYSIWYG Document Editor –Display as they will be printed –Ex. Mathematical Formulas Core Document Extended Character Set For Multilingual Capability –16-bit Character Code

Document Editor Level WYSIWYG Document Editor –Display as they will be printed –Ex. Mathematical Formulas Core Document Extended Character Set For Multilingual Capability –16-bit Character Code