(2007-04-24) Magic Ink

I just discovered Bret Victor's Magic Ink essay from Mar'2006. The PDF is 73p long! The ubiquity of frustrating, unhelpful software interfaces has motivated decades of research into "Human-Computer Interaction." In this paper, I suggest that the long-standing focus on "interaction" may be misguided. For a majority subset of software, called "information software," I argue that interactivity is actually a curse for users and a crutch for designers, and users' goals can be better satisfied through other means. Information software design can be seen as the design of Context-sensitive information graphics (Mapping). I demonstrate the crucial role of information graphic design, and present three approaches to context-sensitivity, of which interactivity is the last resort (the other 2 being the environment and history)... Information software is for learning an internal model (Mental Model). Manipulation software is for creating an external model. Communication software is for communicating a shared model (Shared Language). Manipulation software design is hard, but most software is information software.

• he's a big Edward Tufte junkie
• the separation of information/learning from manipulation conflicts with Constructionism. Though he does not see Computer Games as alternative learning models/approaches.
• he hates DHTML as a Platform for graphic delivery. SVG?
• if he can build the chart-generating tools he writes about, that's great. It seems a stretch to me, though.

I believe that mankind's ability to avert the global catastrophes of the day will hinge on the design of excellent information software (so scientists can see the problems) and manipulation software (so engineers can create solutions). Accordingly, I'm interested in coming up with new models and tools for designing this software and presenting this information. (Augmenting Human Intellect)

• what about politicians? Aren't they the key blockers of progress on many Grand Challenges like Climate Change?