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web design company mumbai direct manipulation expertsThe term used to describe graphical systems with this style of interaction was first used by Shneiderman (1982). He called them “direct manipulation” systems, suggesting that they possess the following characteristics: The system is portrayed as an extension of the real world. It is assumed that a person is already familiar with the objects and actions in his or her environment of interest. The system simply replicates them and portrays them on a different medium, the screen. A person has the power to access and modify these objects, including windows. A person is allowed to work in a familiar environment and in a familiar way, focusing on the data, not the application and tools. The physical organization of the system, which most often is unfamiliar, is hidden from view and is not a distraction. Objects and actions are continuously visible. Like one’s desktop, objects are continuously visible. Reminders of actions to be performed are also obvious, where labelled buttons replace complex syntax and command names. Cursor action and motion occurs in physically obvious and intuitively natural ways. Nelson (1980) described this concept as virtual reality, a representation of reality that can be manipulated. Hatfield (1981) is credited with calling it WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get). Rutkowski (1982) described it as transparency, where one’s intellect is applied to the task, not the tool. Hutchins, Hollan, and Norman (1986) considered it direct involvement with the world of objects rather than communicating with an intermediary. One problem in direct manipulation, however, is that there is no direct analogy on the desk for all necessary windowing operations. A piece of paper on one’s desk maintains a constant size, never shrinking or growing. Windows can do both. Solving this problem required embedding a control panel, a familiar concept to most people, in a window’s border. This control panel is manipulated, not the window itself. Actions are rapid and incremental with visible display of results. Because tactile feedback is not yet possible (as would occur with one’s hand when one touches something), the results of actions are immediately displayed visually on the screen in their new and current form. Auditory feedback may also be provided. The impact of a previous action is quickly seen, and the evolution of tasks is continuous and effortless. Incremental actions are easily reversible. Finally, actions, if discovered to be incorrect or not desired, can be easily undone. Earlier Direct Manipulation Systems Using the aforementioned definition, the concept of direct manipulation actually preceded the first graphical system. The earliest full-screen text editors possessed similar characteristics. Screens of text resembling a piece of paper on one’s desk could be created (extension of real world) and then reviewed in their entirety (continuous visibility).Editing or restructuring could be easily accomplished (through rapid incremental actions) and the results immediately seen. Actions could be reversed when necessary. It took the advent of graphical systems to crystallize the direct manipulation concept, however. Indirect Manipulation In practice, direct manipulation of all screen objects and actions may not be feasible because of the following: The operation may be difficult to conceptualize in the graphical system. The graphics capability of the system may be limited. The amount of space available for placing manipulation controls in the window border may be limited. It may be difficult for people to learn and remember all of the necessary operations and actions. When this occurs, indirect manipulation is provided. Indirect manipulation substitutes words and text, such as pull-down or pop-up menus, for symbols, and substitutes typing for pointing. Most window systems are a combination of both direct and indirect manipulation. A menu may be accessed by pointing at a menu icon and then selecting it (direct manipulation). The menu itself, however, is a textual list of operations (indirect manipulation). When an operation is selected from the list, by pointing or typing, the system executes it as a command. Which style of interaction — direct manipulation, indirect manipulation, or a combination of both — is best, under what conditions and for whom, remains a question for which the answer still eludes us. Atin Dasgupta is director and founder of Leveljam. Web Design Company Mumbai Leveljam is an internet services agency from Mumbai, India focussed on providing cutting edge design and business solutions to the services & manufacturing sector with innovative approaches and advanced methodologies. Our Services include Web Design & Branding, Logo Design, Flash Animation, Application Development, Website Development, E-commerce Development, Content Management Solutions, Mobile Applications Development, Search Engine Optimization, Internet Marketing Solutions, Social Media Visibility & Management, Technical Support and Customer Service. For more information please visit our website www.leveljam.com
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