Full Syntax Interaction
[SOURCE: Doug Engelbart,
interviews & OHS Draft document]
Today we live in a world of programmers and end users. OHS
will change that by giving more flexibility to end users for
building their own tools and environments. Instead of the prevailing
simplistic icon based interface, which is easy to learn but inherently
limited (imagine speaking by clicking on words), OHS builds on
a noun and verb language (imagine speaking by typing on a keyboard
alphabet. Never mind, you don't need to imagine that...). The
system of nouns and verbs (with high definition dynamic linking)
can be combined, given simple logic and even timed:
The Nouns (objects) are any computer detectable objects (of
any granularity- fine or coarse, as required).
EXAMPLE Nouns: Text Strings: Visible, invisible,
phrase, number. Structure: Statement (node such as paragraph),
branch (node and all of its sub nodes), plex (node and siblings)
group (consecutive set of branches in a plex, like a sub-plex),
and document/file.
The Verbs (actions) are any programmable
function the computer can perform on a noun (object).
EXAMPLE Verbs: Copy, paste, append (take two
statements {nouns} and append them together), break (break of
the lower part and make new paragraph/statement to make a {higher,
lower or equal level} new statement), insert, delete, move, transpose,
replace, sort, freeze, force.
Combining The Nouns & Verbs provides a powerful way
of exercising command.
EXAMPLE: Transpose branches which is like taking
two chapters and interchanging them, which can be done even if
the two parts are not in the same file. Sort: Sort by rule (such
as date/time/alphabetical/second word {in regular or reverse
order} etc. and if desired have the results automatically copied
if criteria are met.
The Logic is simply the ability to add decision making
abilities to commands, based on the If/Then structure.
EXAMPLE: Example Operators: Loops, conditionals
(if/then). Example Use: If blind space is found in front or behind
paragraph- delete the space. Alternative Example Use: Copy everyones
name and number from specified are code only.
Timed Events. Commands can be scheduled to run at certain
intervals.
EXAMPLE: Run command every morning at 10am.
Commands Can Be Combined To Create Agents. A series of
commands can be compiled into an Agent which can even call upon
other agents.
EXAMPLE: Check mail from 'so and so if so' has
arrived with 'such and such' content and if it has, add content
to 'such and such' a database and launch 'such and such' Agent
with the senders email address copied to the Agent.
Commands Can Be Given/Entered Through URLs with attached
commands, command line interpreter (as used in UNIX and DOS systems
among others), pop-up Web page interfaces and point and click
icons.
EXAMPLE: Through OHS aware browser: http://www.bootstrap.org/:o
will show an outline view of the main Bootstrap page.
|
|