Newsgroups: comp.infosystems.gis
Date:         Thu, 27 Aug 1992 10:08:54 -0230
Reply-To:     sfreundsch@kean.ucs.mun.ca
              <GIS-L@UBVM.BITNET>
From:         sfreundsch@KEAN.UCS.MUN.CA
Subject:      RE: More user interface blues
X-To:         GIS-L@UBVM.cc.buffalo.edu

Chris Hermansen writes:

>Third, in the ongoing user-interface debate, I feel it's important to
>distinguish between two fairly broad classes of GIS application; on
>the one hand, the "yellow GIS" application that Martin F. mentions -
>applications where the typical user has only the vaguest notions of
>spatial processing, and a user interface that hides all possible
>complexity is paramount; and on the other, planning tools (aka decision
>support systems) intended for an audience with a fairly deep
>understanding of spatial processing and intimate acquaintance with the
>data to be processed.  To date, the typical GIS user has probably tended
>to belong to the latter camp.  I think "intuitive user interface"
>proponents attribute this to the lack of a user interface that permits
>less sophisticated folk to manipulate data.  Finally, constant harping
>on this theme has pervaded the industry for so long that marketing
>types (at least) are starting to accept this hypothesis as gospel.
>
>[bunch of stuff deleted]
>

Chris makes some good points, and some that I don't agree with.  What
he does do is point out the ends of the broad spectrum of current and
potential users of GIS - from the SAPs (Spataily Aware Professionals)
to people like my mom (no offense mom - I love you dearly ;).  I think
user interface development will benefit BOTH, not just the AAP&Ns
(Aspatialy Aware Professionals & Nonprofessionals) as Chris suggests.
To suggest that "non-power" users of GIS will not use GIS because of
cost (of hardware, software, data, data maintainence, etc) may smack
of truth today, but when these impediments are removed (which really
won't be too far down the road - just 7 'short' years ago I thought an
IBM AT was pretty dang good...), then they will use them.  And, there
certainly are professionals out there (there are several in our geog
dept here) who are very interested in using a GIS, but they are not
comfortable with the computer - due in part that they have not
learned about the hardware, and in part when they sit down at the
machine, there is simply a C:\> staring them in the face - in other
words, "what in the heck does one do?".  I agree that some training
and education has to occur - it just has to.  But it would be nice if
what to do with a machine once one is sitting in front of it was a bit
more obvious - not only the OS, but the software as well!  These
people certainly are SAPs, they understand spatial analysis - have
been teaching and using it for years, and no doubt would understand
these procedures in a GIS - but there's that dang computer (i.e.,
interface) to contend with...

Some of the points that Chris raises are also points that others have
raised - there are different users with different needs/abilities/
preferences.  This really does suggest the need for adaptive user
interfaces.

One last point: just because the benefits of user interface research may
not be realized tomorrow, I don't think we should let that fact drive
research in this area today.

Scott Freundschuh
Memorial University of Newfoundland
Newsgroups: comp.infosystems.gis