[net.lan] Query : End user interface

adi (07/02/82)

Does anyone in the <net-land> have some experience or thoughts on
the question below ?

     Given  an intelligent terminal  or  local/personal  computer
     with  graphics  capability  (including mouse and/or touchpad
     devices), which of the following is a preferred way  to  put
     an  application  together  for  a non-computer but technical
     user ?  (i.e. the user is a college graduate, perhaps in EE,
     ME,  or some other engineering or related field, but has had
     very little contact with computers.)

     1. A powerful command language ( a la Unix )

     2. menu driven application - usually single letter or single
        word responses required.

     3. menu driven - menu consisting of graphics characters

     4. menu driven, but allowing pointing to  an  entry  by  the
        pointing device

     5. Some other method (please explain)

If you  have  direct  answers  or  some  pointers  to  literature
(preferably  making  definite recommendations), please respond by
mail.

Please accept my thanks in anticipation.

                                A. D. Ingle
                                ...!pyuxcc!adi