Alan Kay – Doing with Images Makes Symbols: Communicating with Computers (1987)
Dr. Alan Kay's 1987 video explores the development of the "windows and mouse" interface, influenced by past ideas like Sketchpad and NLS. The lecture discusses human psychology and design principles, targeting computer science enthusiasts.
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The video "Doing With Images Makes Symbols: Communicating with Computers" by Dr. Alan Kay, recorded in 1987, discusses the design of the "windows and mouse" user interface, notably used on the Apple Macintosh. Dr. Alan Kay, a computer science PhD holder, outlines the influence of past ideas like Sketchpad, NLS, and Grail on the development of the Smalltalk system at Xerox PARC. The presentation delves into human psychology and multimentality theories that shaped the work of designers at PARC. Dr. Alan Kay's background includes roles at Xerox PARC and Atari before joining Apple Computer in 1984 as an Apple Fellow. The lecture is aimed at audiences interested in computer graphics, user interface design, and the history of computer science. The talk spans 97 minutes, divided into two lectures and a Q&A session, providing insights into the evolution of user interfaces and the underlying psychological principles.
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