A computer-terminal, hardware/software system with enhanced user input capabilities: the enhanced-input terminal system (EITS)
Pages 116 - 124
Abstract
The Enhanced-Input Terminal project is directed at providing major new degrees of freedom for touch-type computer input, especially for on-line use of interactive computer systems. The terminal comprises an integrated of hardware and software. While various choices are available for the actual input and output devices, the present prototype utilizes video display for both devices and a "cross-wire", touch-sensitive input panel. The EITS allows an "author" to define an essentially infinite set of symbols, and an infinite variety of "keyboard" formats. Chord inputs (i.e., simultaneous, multiple-"key" combinations) are also supported. Symbols can be defined in terms of dot matrices, generalized graphics, symbol strings, and functional operations. In spite of the complete generality afforded, the integrated system develops a standard-type of binary-bit-coded input stream, in which the individual symbols are uniquely and canonically represented, and which is amenable to all of the usual "text-file" operations, such as character manipulation, editing, transmission and re-display.
References
[1]
D. O. Pettijohn, Use of the TICS System to Write a Computer Tutorial on the Wave Equation, S. M. Thesis, MIT, Department of Metallurgy and Materials Science (1972).]]
[2]
Roy Kaplow, S. H. Desch, F. C. Smith, Jr., D. O. Pettijohn and M. H. Rodman, Illustrations of Conversational, Inquiry, Problem-Solving, and Questionnaire Type Interactions within the TICS System, Proceedings of the Seventh Annual Princeton Conference on Information Sciences and Systems (March 22-23, 1973).]]
[3]
Roy Kaplow, D. S. Schneider, F. C. Smith, Jr., and W. R. Stensrud, TICS: The Author Language and Instruction Manual, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1971); Computer Assistance for Writing Interactive Programs: TICS, Atlanta, Proceedings of the ACM Meeting, Georgia (August 1973).]]
[4]
Mobyuki Goto, A Translator Program for Displaying a Computer Stored Set of Special Characters, Report ESL-R-429, MIT (1970).]]
[5]
Ibid, page 59, Figure 16.]]
[6]
A. D. Falkoff, K. E. Iverson, APL/360: User's Manual, IBM Corporation (1968); K. E. Iverson, A Programming Language, Wiley (1962).]]
[7]
Computer Display Terminal Model 4013 Data Sheet, Tektronix Inc., Beaverton, Oregon.]]
[8]
A few approaches to keyboards for numerical analysis systems are reviewed, for example, in: A. Ruyle, J. Brackett, and Roy Kaplow, The Status of Systems for On-Line Mathematical Assistance, Proceedings ACM 22nd National Meeting, 151-167 (1967); also, see: M. Klerer and J. May, Two-Dimensional Programming, Proceedings of the Fall Joint Computer Conference, 27, 63-75, Spartan Books, Washington, D. C. (1965).]]
[9]
F. J. Reintjes, Private Communication.]]
[10]
G. J. Culler and B. D. Fried, The TRW Two-Station On-Line Scientific Computer General Description, Computer Augmentation of Human Reasoning, Spartan Books, Washington, D.C. (1965).]]
[11]
New Concept in Man-Machine Interface Devices, Developments Section, Computer Design, 7, 32 (1968).]]
[12]
K. Knowlton, Virtual Pushbuttons as a Means of Person-Machine Interaction, Proceedings Computer Graphics, Pattern Recognition and Data Structure Conference, Beverly Hills, California (1975).]]
[13]
An early example of such hardware was the elaborate "Kludge" facility of the MIT Electronics Systems Laboratory; see: J. E. Ward, "Display Systems Research," Project MAC Report: Progress to July 1974, MIT (1965).]]
[14]
See, for example, J. L. Little, ASCII Code Applications to Alphanumeric Display Terminals, Proceedings of the SID, 13/3, Third Quarter, 154 (1972).]]
[15]
T. H. Maugh II, in Research News, Science, p. 273 (October 19, 1973).]]
[16]
R. V. Baron and Roy Kaplow, User's Guide for Crystrum I, MIT Department of Metallurgy and Materials Science (1973).]]
[17]
For a different discussion of these and related issues, see: D. G. Alden, R. W. Daniels, and A. F. Kanarick, Keyboard Designs and Operation: A Review of the Major Issues, Human Factors, 14, 275 (1972).]]
[18]
For a description of this computer, see: Processor Handbook, PDP 11/40, Digital Equipment Corporation, Maynard, Mass. (1972).]]
[19]
T. F. Knight, Artificial Intelligence Project, MIT, Private Communications.]]
[20]
T. Cheek, J. Ward, D. Thornhill, Operation and Programming Manual for the ARD-1 Experimental Dataphone-Driven Remote Storage-Tube Display, Project MAC Memorandum M-336, (1966); Storage Display Unit-Model 611 Data Sheet, Tektronix, Inc., Beaverton, Oregon.]]
[21]
W. E. Johnson and L. J. Schmersal, A Quarter-Million-Element AC Plasma Display with Memory, Technical Bulletin DU-130, Owens-Illinois (1971); Digivue Model 512-60 Data Sheet, Owens-Illinois, Perrysburg, Ohio.]]
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Published In
July 1976
301 pages
ISBN:9781450373531
DOI:10.1145/563274
Copyright © 1976 ACM.
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Published: 14 July 1976
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