Xerox introduced the Xerox 8010 Star Information System in 1982. This groundbreaking development was the game-changer for the new era of personal computing. Xerox Star was revolutionary; it had the capability to integrate technologies and innovations that have since become standard in personal computers. In the demo video, many hardware and software showed to be very similar to what we have today: the basic structure of the mouse, the layout of the keyboard, the techniques used to manage and arrange documents, and the basic actions to manipulate the interface. “‘move’ is the most powerful command in the system; it replaces a large number of conventional computer commands,” the instructor stated in the video. One of the most crucial aspects of establishing an accessible user interface is to have the capacity to customize. In Xerox Star, there were basic commands designed to allow users to move and edit the documents correspondingly to their needs. What surprised me was that the signifier of highlighting a selected object is precisely similar to what we have today. Designers and developers have made very little, yet subtle changes in that – instead of making the object turn entirely to another color, now it shows a semi-transparent outline that surrounds the selected object.
These primitive features from Xerox Star fundamentally laid the groundwork for the future development of the graphical user interface. The first Macintosh operating system also had an impressive development in the world of pioneering personal computers. Jef Raskin started the Mac project in 1979, intending to design a computer that was as easy to use as a toaster. This simplistic and minimalistic design principle has instilled deeply into the root of their brand until today. Apple seems like they have always followed their past footsteps to design and conceptualize their product. Like our new iOS update today, the oldest Macintosh could use widgets while other applications were running. What has changed tremendously is that we can multitask on today’s Macintosh and set up different windows and desktops at once. The one in 1984 could only add “little desktop accessories” on top of the software.
Xerox Star and Macintosh both finessed the personal computer era back in time. Indeed, they also had their envisions for the future use of interactive technology, and evidently, many similar features and principles are still being used today. However, with the new trend of VR and AR that are progressively advancing, I am not sure if the future of technology would stay the same. The development of AR and VR has an entirely different usage of our sensories. These immersion experiences that shut out the physical world require a brand new paradigm for understanding how to manipulate the virtual world. Maybe it is time to adapt to virtual reality, so one day when computers are slowly disappearing, we could be ready for the new world of technology.
i also agree with you that it is hard to expect what the future’s technology is like. Not only because of AR/VR, but also we can’t not predict what scientific revolution will be discovered in the future
With such development of AR and VR involves multiple sensories, I agree it’s hard to expect what’s for the future.