> Well, your hardware requirements sound a lot like a PC. Now this does
> not suprise me, but I have often claimed that intelligent devices must
> be designed for specific tasks at hand. Since other folks started using
> Martin Heidegger, I think I will too: Heidegger talks about a property
> of tools called 'readiness to hand'.
or how about "non-invasive" technology....I suspect that the original
language was not English...which often creates interesting phrases...like
the Air Dominicana ad I read that claimed their pilots were "well
experimented".... hmmmmm....it didn't help that the plane in the
accompanying photo was a DC-6.
I once read an article that suggested that the best computers and
applications are the ones that are so well designed that we aren't aware of
their presence anymore...ie. are second nature. The PDA/Handheld has finally
evolved to the point where this is becoming possible....
Joseph
----- Original Message -----
From: "Wayne Wilson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Thursday, November 30, 2000 10:36 AM
Subject: Re: PDA's not the end
> Michael Kramer wrote:
> >
> > Watching this thread with great interest. One of the best discussions
yet, my bias. Our inpatient order entry team is holding out for emerging
devices. Being that we have 5 basic bottom line requirements, 800x600
screen, wireless, >6 hour battery life, 802.11a/b, HTML 4.0 and Java, there
are likely to be many choices available by Fall 2001. If it only just fit
in my pocket.
> >
> Well, your hardware requirements sound a lot like a PC. Now this does
> not suprise me, but I have often claimed that intelligent devices must
> be designed for specific tasks at hand. Since other folks started using
> Martin Heidegger, I think I will too: Heidegger talks about a property
> of tools called 'readiness to hand'. What he means is that the tool
> must fit naturally into a human's task.* I take this to mean that we
> need to build more purpose built devices and less general purpose
> devices if the spread of information technology is to continue. I see
> the momentum of the PDA's as evidence of this.
>
> > One of the things that we are trying to avoid in the construction of the
inpatient order entry project is the creation of multiple applications, one
for each device. It is our hope that XSL or CSS especially if rendered on
the server side would allow more flexibility whether the device is a palm
pilot or a full web tablet.
> >
> I have been examining XSLT technologies and I think they are very useful
> for transforming static content, but less useful for transforming
> human-computer interaction. So if you are envisoning a primarily one
> way flow of information, i.e. a publishing model using push for
> instance, XSLT will work. However, if you are designing a highly
> interactive system, I think it unavoidable that you create special UI
> output modules. Now, if you are using the M-V-C paradigm, you don't
> have to write a completely new application.
>
>
> * For those interested in philosophical observations. This is my
> interpretation from reading Heidegger. The most obvious starting place
> is "The Question Concerning Technology". I found this on-line
> translation, but it does not have my quoted phrase in it. However, it
> does have a very interesting statement:
>
> "Technology is therefore no mere means. Technology is a way of
> revealing. If we give heed to this, then another whole realm for the
> essence of technology will open itself up to us. It is the realm of
> revealing, i.e., of truth."
>
> see: http://www.ulla.mcgill.ca/arts150/arts150r2.htm
>
> Actually, I see that some translate the phrase as 'ready-to-hand' and it
> is dealt with extensively in 'Being and Time', Heideggers really big
> work! But my interpretation of it's applicability to computer systems
> is not unique, here is a view from an educational theorist:
>
> http://www.alumni.engin.umich.edu/~jxm/doc/ted21.html
>
> For those with a political/moral consciousness be sure to check into
> Heidegger's relationship with the Nazi's.
>
>
