[Oberon] Re (2): Project Oberon: New Edition

[Chris Burrows]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: eas lab [mailto:lab.eas at gmail.com]
> Sent: Saturday, 28 December 2013 9:43 AM
> To: ETH Oberon and related systems
> Subject: Re: [Oberon] Re (2): Project Oberon: New Edition
> 
> Focus on the human psychology, not the computer hardware.
> Although we all differ, some basic evolved human attributes are:
>  short-term memory limited to ca. 3 items;  recognision is mot limited by
> memory.
> This automatically leads to the menu-concept, which TUI has.
> 

I think you'll find that the short-term memory item number is closer to 7-8
items. 8-digit telephone numbers are pushing the limit.

Using words can be a way of allowing you to remember more data. As a quick
demo how long does it take you to memorise the phone number:

628-483-623766

Now how much easier is it to remember:

NATIVE OBERON

- where each letter is mapped to a number via your telephone keypad.

Memory tricksters take this concept even further e.g. by using the brain's
word-association abilities to map a story onto the sequence of cards in a
deck of cards.

A book that I have recommended previously for those interested in the design
of man-machine interfaces was written by Alan Cooper (the "Father of Visual
Basic"). It is titled "The Inmates are Running the Asylum - Why High-Tech
Products Drive Us Crazy and How to Restore the Sanity" ISBN
0-672-31649-8 Sams Publishing.

I also recommend "The Zen of Palm - Designing products for Palm OS". I can
no longer find its original location but a Google search will find copies
for you,

Regards,
Chris

Chris Burrows
CFB Software
http://www.astrobe.com