CONTROL DEVICES:

Remington - First patent on typewriter keyboards.

QWERTY - Optimization based on mechanics of a typewriter, still used even though it's not necessary to worry about jamming the typewriter.

Dvorak Simplified Keyboard - Optimized for use based on placement of letters, invented for computer keyboard.

Structure of Class:

Enough so that we're not lost, but not so much that we're just recapitulating what we're taught.

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Walker Percy - "The Loss of the Creature" - 'the educational package.'

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Success:

<o> Making money, getting a good job?

<o> Changing the world in a 'positive' way?

<o> 'Motivate the user and let him loose in a wonderful place' - statement of ethical purpose. It is a good thing that ought to be done.

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Observations: (not mine)

If somebody said to get from one point to another through the woods, let them find a way - don't give a specific path to follow, which requires no thought.

Nelson's writing looks like he just scribbled up lots of different ideas and then had somebody "type it up."

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onlookers!

Philip is the conundrum man, man

Just some of my thoughts on the Nelson article:
Computers should be understandable by everyone or everyone should understand computers?
Is dialogue pleasant or necessary?
Anything can be said in any medium? Really?
Why is the 10 page paper not a wonderful place?

Nelson's book looks like some crazy notes that someone decided to type up from Nelson's journal.

Questions posed during class:
What is success?
What is "positive"?
Do we need extrinsic motivation?

Things to think about:
Engelbart did not achieve monetary success, but he did change the world with his ideas.
"Motivate the user and let him loose in a wonderful place." -Nelson
The computer is a wonderful place where we can be a "searcher", finding the answers to our curious questions--not necessarily finding the answer, but learning along the way.