A Taxonomy of See-Through Tools

Filmed in 1994 at Xerox PARC, this is one in a series of videos made of the technologies known as Toolglass and Magic Lenses, or the See-Through Interface. The goal of this video is to show off some of the variety of computer tools that are possible using the see-through tools concept. In is organized into several scenes.

The Introduction demonstrates the idea of a click-through tool, using a color-changing tool for graphical editors. Input Transparency shows lenses that tint and magnify and help the user select things. Triggering Methods shows that users can do more than just click; objects can be dragged off of the tool and operations can be initiated with stroke gestures. Data Direction & Quantity shows that objects can be moved both to and from the see-through tools and that the data can be anything from a single graphical object to an entire picture. Applications shows a variety of uses including a color selection tool and a graphical macro tool. Appearance shows lenses that change different graphical properties of objects seen through them, including making objects transparent or changing line thickness. Motion shows tools that move in response to the objects underneath them and a tool that causes buttons to appear next to the objects underneath them.

This video is narrated by Ken Fishkin and Ken Pier. Eric Bier and Ken Pier performed the actions. Thomas Baudel, Eric Bier, Ken Pier, and Maureen Stone wrote the software. Video production is by Andy Aronson.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Ken PIer
• Ken Fishkin
• Eric Bier
• Thomas Baudel
• Maureen Stone
• Andy Aronson
• xerox parc
• user interface
• software
• toolglass
• magic lenses
• see-through interface
• computer graphics
• illustration systems
• illustration software
• gui
• graphical user interface