A Schematic Entry Drawing Capability in a Linearised Hypermedia System

This paper describes a linearised hypermedia system, called the Book Emulator, that generally supports the capture of diagrammatic specifications such as SSADM and electronic circuit diagrams, and the capture of mathematical notations such as Z. Since the Book Emulator can be closely coupled to applications, it can be used as the user-interface to that application. Doing so automatically provides a conferencing mechanism on behalf of applications and a mechanism for recording the engineering analyses performed by the application. It is argued that this is the next and higher step in the trend to separate the user-interface from the application. The schematic entry mechanism has been designed to minimise the user's physical and mental effort so that the user may concentrate on drawing strategy. This is achieved by minimising the number of selections (steps) required to reach an atomic goal, and by refraining from hiding functionality in menus. The paper concludes with an indication of how the generalised schematic capture mechanism might be exploited in systems that allow end- users to organise and specify their information requirements.