> -----Original Message-----
> From: Jochem van Dieten [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Sent: Saturday, September 13, 2003 7:51 AM
> To: CF-Talk
> Subject: Re: No so good news
> 
> Jim Davis wrote:
> 
> > No problem.  It's just that some people are taking this as an "MS
> > finally gets theirs" situation when the ramifications are
> > (unfortunately) really much larger than that.
> >
> > I'm waiting for the definition of "browser" to come up - any
hyper-text
> > system (CD ROM encyclopedias, help systems, computer assisted
training,
> > etc) may be affected by this.
> 
> Any hypertext system capable of network operation is affected by
> it. The text of the patent is quite clear (and entertaining).
> 
> 
> > I fully expect it to be thrown out in a higher court
> 
> I don't. The only conceivable reason for it being thrown out is
> prior art. I fully expect Microsoft to be capable of finding
> that, so I presume it doesn't exist.

Actually I remember an IBM presentation from the mid 80's (after laser
discs hit, but before CD ROMs).  They demonstrated the "teaching
computer" using "Ulysses" as the example:

The system (made up of, I believe several IBM computers and two laser
disc players) would allow the user to "interact" with the story.  They
could read passages, then click a passage and see a short movie of it
from the laser disc.  Words could be selected for definitions, names for
profiles, etc.

It was primitive compared to the web of today of course, but definitely
hypertext and definitely launched external players.

A video tape of the demonstration was used by an old boss for folks new
to Intermedia Services (my old department)... perhaps I should try to
track her down...

However there is also the possibly that it will be thrown out as too
broadly applicable.

Jim Davis 


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