Copyright: (c) Copyright 1990 Association for Computing Machinery
Category: TOIS08
Journal: ACM Transactions on Information Systems
Abstract: Although there has been important progress in models and packages for
        the output of graphics to computer screens, there has been little change in
        the way that input from the mouse, keyboard, and other input devices is
        handled.  New graphics standards are still using a fifteen-year-old model
        even though it is widely accepted as inadequate, and most modern window
        managers simply return a stream of low-level, device-dependent input
        events.  This paper presents a new model that handles input devices for
        highly interactive, direct manipulation, graphical user interfaces, which
        could be used in future toolkits, window managers, and graphics standards.
        This model encapsulates interactive behaviors into a few "Interactor"
        object types.  Application programs can then create instances of these
        Interactor objects which hide the details of the underlying window manager
        events.  In addition, Interactors allow a clean separation between the
        input handling, the graphics, and the application programs.  This model has
        been extensively used as part of the Garnet system and has proven to be
        convenient, efficient, and easy to learn.
Number: 3
Keywords: Software engineering, Tools and techniques, User interfaces, Computer
        graphics, Methodology and techniques, Human factors, Direct manipulation,
        Input devices, Interaction, Interaction techniques, Model-view controller,
        Object-oriented design, User interface management systems
Pages: 289-320
Author: Brad A. Myers
Series: Research Contributions
Title: A New Model for Handling Input
Date: 1990
Volume: 8