Doug Engelbart Glossary - Command Language & Granularity

Question:	Can you emphasizes the importance of command language and the importance of high granularity? So different user interface levels are important? The command language is both easy to use because we use language naturally and it is more flexible? Is this where high granularity is important? Is the address, a word in a in a paragraph for example, itself, or an external number? So you had to early on make an arbitrary choice what is a paragraph, sentence etc. and how to link to them?

Answer:	Paraphrased: The time it takes to click on a menu is too slow. You can enter more command characters (on the chorded keyset) in that time and you can grow a larger and more flexile command language.

Notes:	None.

Keywords:	Command language, granularity, menu, chorded keyset, mouse, verb & noun, command line, command recognition, alphabetics, user interface levels,

Related Links:	None.

Format:	.au 11.127 khz 16 bits mono with µLaw 2;1 compression. Originally recorded on an Apple Macintosh PowerBook using a SONY ECM-T145 condenser microphone and Adobe Premiere audio/video editing software. The original recording was saved as a QuickTime file at 22 mhz, 16 bits with no compression. Due to Doug's characteristically low voice it was then imported into a Premiere project where the volume was raised in the project timeline three times (no filter) and saved as a QuickTime movie. The document was then finally imported into Apple's QuickTime Player and exported as .au at 11.127 khz, 16 bits mono with µLaw 2;1 compression resulting in the version playing here.

Recorded:	Session 1. 7/22/2000. Interviewed at Dr. Engelbarts residence in Atherton, California, early Saturday morning by Frode Hegland @.