3 ms·

I've always found it quite curious that computer human interfaces have always focused on the noun/verb proposition of describing data, and not the time/place.

I've always found it quite curious that computer human interfaces have always focused on the noun/verb proposition of describing data, and not the time/place. Time is the only true constant in the universe, and yet computers are set up to track and control it, seemingly, as a second thought. Imagine if instead of having files/folders to (teach,confuse) Grandma, we simply had a time-based system of references. If Time was a principle unit of information that a user was required to understand as an abstract concept, I feel that it would result in far better user interfaces. We can see this in the Music-making world, where Time is the most significant domain over which a Musician exerts control. A DAW-like interface for managing events seems to me to be quite intuitive - for so many other non-musical applications - that its almost extraordinary that someone hasn't built an email system, or accounting system, or a graphical-design system, of applications, oriented around this aspect. (Of course, they are out there - but it seems that Time management makes the dividing line between "professional" and "dilettante" users rather thick...)

saint-loup 11y ago
Regarding time-based interfaces, consider the work of Gelertner (et al.). https://archive.wired.com/wired/archive/5.02/fflifestreams_pr.html https://archive.wired.com/wired/archive/5.02/fflifestreams_p... http://www.wired.com/2013/02/the-end-of-the-web-computers-and-search-as-we-know-it/ http://www.wired.com/2013/02/the-end-of-the-web-computers-an...
pbowyer 11y ago
> Imagine if instead of having files/folders to (teach,confuse) Grandma, we simply had a time-based system of references. If Time was a principle unit of information that a user was required to understand as an abstract concept, I feel that it would result in far better user interfaces. How would it be easier when I, let alone my Grandma, can't remember if I did something last week or the week before last? It seems it puts a higher cognitive load on the user.
- x5n1 11y ago
  Yeah I actually don't think the human brain accounts very well for time. Like despite a decade has passed I don't feel as if time has moved very much for me. Despite the fact that people age, it does not seem an inbuilt thing to recognize your age. It just seems to be something that happens to your body. Thinking a bit more about it I don't think the brain accounts for time in long term memory, it does a better job in short term memory. That's why a musician can use time and we can't use it very well for stuff we stored a week ago.
- fit2rule 11y ago
  You think its better to have a situation where you can't find where something is, nor even approximate it, but you can generally approximate when something is, and grope around it? Because I don't think thats the case - if you can't remember where you put it, its not helpful to grope around the location of where you think you might've put it - or at least, lets say this: it might be more helpful to group around time, than space, when dealing with abstract ideas. A user interface can be derived to help you do that groping with Time. User interfaces have been derived to help you do groping with form or place (Spotlight, cf.), too, but I wager Time-groping is more effective. But that could just be the musician in me...
philh 11y ago
> Time is the only true constant in the universe I'm not sure exactly what you mean by this, but relativity would seem to contradict you.
- fit2rule 11y ago
  Have you ever seen Time suddenly stop? It doesn't. It just keeps on ticking. (okay, the theory of relativity may have other things to say about how those ticks propagate through space, however: we're talking about computers and user interfaces here..)
  - philh 11y ago
    Time continues to tick, and space continues to not collapse in on me. I'm not sure in what sense you claim time is a constant and space is not.
  - kybernetikos 11y ago
    > Have you ever seen Time suddenly stop? It doesn't. How would you know, since your awareness is embedded in time?
    - fit2rule 11y ago
      What difference does it make since my awareness of the computer user interface is also such?

saint-loup 11y ago

Regarding time-based interfaces, consider the work of Gelertner (et al.). https://archive.wired.com/wired/archive/5.02/fflifestreams_pr.html https://archive.wired.com/wired/archive/5.02/fflifestreams_p... http://www.wired.com/2013/02/the-end-of-the-web-computers-and-search-as-we-know-it/ http://www.wired.com/2013/02/the-end-of-the-web-computers-an...

pbowyer 11y ago

> Imagine if instead of having files/folders to (teach,confuse) Grandma, we simply had a time-based system of references. If Time was a principle unit of information that a user was required to understand as an abstract concept, I feel that it would result in far better user interfaces. How would it be easier when I, let alone my Grandma, can't remember if I did something last week or the week before last? It seems it puts a higher cognitive load on the user.

x5n1 11y ago
Yeah I actually don't think the human brain accounts very well for time. Like despite a decade has passed I don't feel as if time has moved very much for me. Despite the fact that people age, it does not seem an inbuilt thing to recognize your age. It just seems to be something that happens to your body. Thinking a bit more about it I don't think the brain accounts for time in long term memory, it does a better job in short term memory. That's why a musician can use time and we can't use it very well for stuff we stored a week ago.
fit2rule 11y ago
You think its better to have a situation where you can't find where something is, nor even approximate it, but you can generally approximate when something is, and grope around it? Because I don't think thats the case - if you can't remember where you put it, its not helpful to grope around the location of where you think you might've put it - or at least, lets say this: it might be more helpful to group around time, than space, when dealing with abstract ideas. A user interface can be derived to help you do that groping with Time. User interfaces have been derived to help you do groping with form or place (Spotlight, cf.), too, but I wager Time-groping is more effective. But that could just be the musician in me...

philh 11y ago

> Time is the only true constant in the universe I'm not sure exactly what you mean by this, but relativity would seem to contradict you.

fit2rule 11y ago
Have you ever seen Time suddenly stop? It doesn't. It just keeps on ticking. (okay, the theory of relativity may have other things to say about how those ticks propagate through space, however: we're talking about computers and user interfaces here..)
- philh 11y ago
  Time continues to tick, and space continues to not collapse in on me. I'm not sure in what sense you claim time is a constant and space is not.
- kybernetikos 11y ago
  > Have you ever seen Time suddenly stop? It doesn't. How would you know, since your awareness is embedded in time?
  - fit2rule 11y ago
    What difference does it make since my awareness of the computer user interface is also such?