Visual interaction using an iconic system

IBS (Icon Based System) is an experimental graphical query language based on icons. It demonstrates the capabilities of a workstation environment by integrating the aspects of database programming in one graphical setting. Namely, it allows direct manipulation of objects dealing with pictorial data as well as alphanumeric data. We point out the interaction techniques between users and database systems. Then we describe the design of IBS, illustrate its features, and show how queries are formulated in a medical context.