Technological developments are not going hand-in-hand with a change in the way people interact with computers. The currently dominant interaction metaphor of direct manipulation requires the user to initiate all tasks explicitly and to monitor all events. This metaphor will have to change if untrained users are to make effective use of the computers and networks of tomorrow.
Predictor: Maes, Pattie
Prediction, in context:In an informative 1994 article titled “Agents that Reduce Work and Information Overload,” Pattie Maes of MIT writes:”Computers are becoming the vehicle for an increasing range of everyday activities. Acquisition of news and information, mail and even social interactions and entertainment become more and more computer-based. At the same time, an increasing number of untrained users are interacting with computers, and this number will continue to rise as technologies such as hand-held computers and interactive television become popular. Unfortunately, these technological developments are not going hand-in-hand with a change in the way people interact with computers. The currently dominant interaction metaphor of direct manipulation requires the user to initiate all tasks explicitly and to monitor all events. This metaphor will have to change if untrained users are to make effective use of the computers and networks of tomorrow.”
Biography:Pattie Maes , a researcher at MIT’s Media Lab, was a founder and board member of Firefly Network, Inc. in Cambridge, Mass. Ð one of the first companies to commercialize personalization and profiling technology (Firefly was acquired by Microsoft in 1998). She was also a founder and a board member of Open Ratings, Inc., a provider of performance data on businesses for B2B ecommerce. (Research Scientist/Illuminator.)
Date of prediction: January 1, 1994
Topic of prediction: Getting, Sharing Information
Subtopic: Intelligent Agents/AI
Name of publication: Agents that Reduce Work and Information Overload
Title, headline, chapter name: Agents that Reduce Work and Information Overload
Quote Type: Paraphrase
Page number or URL of document at time of study:
http://pattie.www.media.mit.edu/people/pattie/CACM-94/CACM-94.pl.html
This data was logged into the Elon/Pew Predictions Database by: Meyer, Jennifer Marie