std-unix@longway.TIC.COM (Moderator, John S. Quarterman) (04/14/88)
From: Rich Salz <uunet!BBN.COM!rsalz>
This appeared in comp.windows.news, but might be worthwhile posting here...
I deleted a second press release about AT&T training conferences,
but the following paragraph is very intersting:
Further, the conference will cover UNIX System V Release 4.0's
key capabilities in the areas of networked computing and user
interfaces. For example, in the networking area, UNIX System V
Release 4.0 brings together AT&T's Remote File Sharing and
Sun's Network File System (NFS), Remote Procedure Call (RPC) and
External Data Representation (XDR). In the area of user
interfaces, Release 4.0 adds graphics and windowing capabilities
to UNIX System V's set of character oriented capabilities. The
OPEN LOOK interface will provide a common look and feel across
the UNIX system in either a standalone or networked
environment using either X Windows or X11/NeWS.
Yup, V.4 will support NFS and X ...
[ I've mulled over the propriety of posting a company press release
for a bit. It seems appropriate this time because no one from AT&T
has contributed to the previous discussion, and this press release
at least give some idea of what AT&T is trying to do. -mod ]
From: joel@sundc.UUCP (Joel McClung - Federal TS Mgr Washington DC)
Newsgroups: comp.windows.news
Subject: Press Release-AT&T Look & Feel
Date: 12 Apr 88 00:04:17 GMT
AT&T ANNOUNCES OPEN LOOK GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE
FOR RELEASE MONDAY, APRIL 11, 1988
New York -- AT&T today announced an advance that will make it
easier for many customers to use computers based on the
company's UNIX(R) operating system.
Called the OPEN LOOK(TM) user interface, it employs common-sense
graphic symbols instead of written commands to help users work
more efficiently with their UNIX System V-based computers.
"OPEN LOOK will change the way the industry thinks of the UNIX
system," said Vittorio Cassoni, president of AT&T's Data Systems
Group. "This interface brings the benefits of the UNIX system
to a whole new group of users who otherwise might never have
taken advantage of the power of a UNIX system-based computer."
The OPEN LOOK technology was designed for AT&T by Sun
Microsystems Inc. of Mountain View, California. Sun's design is
based on original work, contributions from AT&T, and on
technology licensed from Xerox Corporation, which originated
many of the concepts present in today's computer interfaces.
The OPEN LOOK interface's graphic symbols include push pins to
"pin" important menus to the screen for further reference and an
elevator to move up or down in the text. To print or store
files, users move a hand-held mouse to push labeled buttons
designed to look like those on a household appliance.
"As the name implies," said Cassoni, "the OPEN LOOK user
interface supports AT&T's commitment to open systems and the
need for a standard user interface."
This interface represents the next critical step in truly
expanding the UNIX system marketplace," said Scott McNealy,
president of Sun Microsystems. "Applications developed with the
OPEN LOOK interface can vie for a larger market because the
interface is standard."
The interface has already generated endorsements from key
computer system suppliers, PC and workstation software suppliers
and systems suppliers.
"We believe this is what the industry has been waiting for,"
said Cassoni, adding that endorsements by key MS-DOS application
vendors represent a watershed in the evolution of the UNIX
system.
"Lotus' goal is to provide its customers with common
applications such as 1-2-3 across standard platforms," said Jim
P. Manzi, president and CEO of Lotus Development Corporation.
"Until recently, the variants of the UNIX system were a barrier
to that goal. The OPEN LOOK interface exemplifies a movement
toward a more standardized UNIX environment. This movement has
encouraged vendors like Lotus to develop UNIX system versions of
proven applications such as 1-2-3."
"We consider the UNIX system environment a strategic development
platform today and in the future," said Edward M. Esber, Jr.,
chairman and CEO of Ashton-Tate Corporation. "The OPEN LOOK
user interface will play an important role in helping us to
provide our customers with powerful, yet easy-to-use UNIX system
applications."
Wayland R. Hicks, president of Xerox Corporation's Business
Products and Systems Group said, "Xerox is endorsing the OPEN
LOOK interface as a future building block for Xerox document
processing products and systems."
UNIX System V is the fastest-growing operating system, according
to industry sources, with worldwide shipments of UNIX
system-based computers expected to grow at an annual rate of 30
percent over the next three years. AT&T said the OPEN LOOK
user interface should make the UNIX system even more popular by
making it easier to use.
The interface offers benefits for users and application
programmers alike.
In addition to being easy for them to learn, the OPEN LOOK
interface will make users more productive because it allows them
to create multiple "windows" on their computer screens, each of
which can perform a different task simultaneously.
Programmers will find that the various Application Programmer
Interface (API) Toolkits AT&T plans to release will give them a
set of tools -- or pre-programmed components -- to make it more
efficient to write new applications by reducing the amount of
code that needs to be written per function.
In addition, because the OPEN LOOK user interface is the
standard interface for UNIX system-based computers, programmers
don't have to be retrained to write software for different
machines -- thus, increasing their productivity.
AT&T will circulate OPEN LOOK specifications for comment this
summer and will make them available in the third quarter of this
year. These will include a specification of the common style
for applications -- the Applications Style Guide -- as well as
descriptions of the programming interface for OPEN LOOK under
two toolkits, both of which AT&T will support via a single
graphics system platform. They are the XT toolkit based on the
X Windows and the NDE toolkit based on NeWS.
The first availability of OPEN LOOK features in an AT&T product
will be this summer in a window manager for the 6386
workstation, followed by an XT toolkit in the fourth quarter
1988 and an NDE toolkit in the first quarter 1989.
In keeping with its commitment to support standards, AT&T said
that as they become accepted, the company would support APIs
for emerging standard interfaces. AT&T also will license source
code for the various toolkits supporting the OPEN LOOK user
interface.
The OPEN LOOK user interface toolkits are scheduled to be available in
source form in early 1989.
The OPEN LOOK user interface is designed to be useful into the
1990's. For instance, unlike some graphical interfaces, the
OPEN LOOK interface is designed for a wide range of applications
from simple document processing to much more sophisticated
computer-added engineering (CAE). In addition, the graphics
perform well whether they appear on a PC or a high resolution
engineering workstation. Also, the interface will support a
variety of terminals accessing different applications.
AT&T today also announced it will co-sponsor with Sun
Microsystems a series of eight, three-day conferences around the
world beginning in September to give independent software
vendors, value-aided resellers and large corporate users a
preview of the key technical features of UNIX System V Release
4.0, including the newly announced OPEN LOOK interface.
"Today's announcement, "Cassoni concluded, "further delivers on our
promise to provide our customers with the world's premiere computer
operating system."
###
OPEN LOOK is a trademark of AT&T. UNIX is a registered trademark of
AT&T.
--
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Volume-Number: Volume 13, Number 53