Modes, WYSIWYG and the von Neumann bottleneck

Argues the case for the von Neumann correspondence: a correspondence between user interface design and computer system design. The von Neumann correspondence covers concepts from the technical to the conceptual; this should not surprise us, since programmers, in their efforts to interact with computers, first noticed the von Neumann bottleneck and its consequences. Programmers are now very active in developing novel concepts and questioning 'self-evident' truths (e.g. the necessity of explicit sequence): it is time to evaluate and adopt some of these ideas for user interface design, and it is time for user interface researchers to put some of the programmers' claims to empirical scrutiny. Is it really the case that, say, functional programming is 'easier' than conventional imperative programming? If it is, or is in certain ways, then the relevant ideas can be carried over into user interfaces for more widespread appreciation. Whatever the final judgement on the new programming paradigms, it is clear that pursuing the von Neumann correspondence is likely to lead to innovation in user interface design-and, as a bonus, it may raise some programmer's appreciation of user interface design problems.<
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