ComradeHuxley
Donor
I know we don't necro threads so instead I try to open a “sequel” thread to this question:
Link to the original
There is also this surprisingly relevant article from 1996.
Link
I think the advance of touchscreens etc., but also the observations that people still cling to WIMP makes this an interesting discussion to revisit.
What if the graphical user interface (of the WIMP- "Windows, Icons, Menus, Pointers"- type at least) had either never been invented in its present form, or never been taken up by Apple for the Lisa and Macintosh machines? What if command-line interfaces, or some alternative involving the keyboard (or simple mouse driven interface for certain programs at the most) were all there was? How would computing develop, assuming that modern hardware of similar standard develops? Would DOS still be viable, and would UNIX and UNIX-like systems be preferred for networking over it? Would mice even take off?
Link to the original
There is also this surprisingly relevant article from 1996.
Link
I think the advance of touchscreens etc., but also the observations that people still cling to WIMP makes this an interesting discussion to revisit.