The future of NeXT. The NeXT future.
Carlos Salinas
The future of the NeXT lise not in "meat and potatoe" programs but in Hyper-
media. Why?
Architecture:
The NeXT is a powerful 25mhz machine with a large display (multi-windows,
multi-processes), and built in ethernet (ie access to the world!). This alone
makes it a prime candidate for Hyper systems (Hypertext, Hypergraphics, Hyper-
media).
OS and Objective-C:
Ever worked with HyperCard for the Macintosh? Imagine a HyperCard for the NeXT?
It would be suprisingly easy to add a HyperCard to the NeXT. Many of the ob-
jects you would need are already defined (Application Kit- windows=backgrounds,
views=cards, buttons=buttons). Mach is designed to allow inter-application
communications so "meat and potatoes" programs could be linked into the over-
all system. Why be limited to an Interface Builder when you can have an
Application Builder?
What I envision for the NeXT is basically a software revolution. A giant step
into the future which Jobs began by introducing window systems in the Macin-
tosh. Imagine a machine with the power of the NeXT tied into a global infor-
mation network! A Hyper system encompasing the databases of the world. True
online documentation, not the parody of old world technology that the "Digital
Librarian" gives us. With a HyperNeXT one could bank at home, order by Email,
do research by Ethernet, run an international business, all with the ease of
point and click. Click, and satellite images appear on your screen (analyze as
you please, graph packages could be linked into the Hyper system). Imagine the
waves this could create in the sciences, where scientists grudge through
mounds of computer generated data by hand! Imagine the future! Jobs, are you
aware of the potential of the machine you've created? Or are you going to
push uninspiring software like the Digital Librarian, and Interface Builder
(a small step yes, but lacking vision)? HyperNeXT is the future...
Miscellany-
online publications (not the 2d stuff we're used to, but hypermedia)
online shopping (peruse a hyper catalogue from Sears)
online research (journals galore, all heavily cross indexed to give you the
info you need, more time on research, less in the library)
online news groups (above and beyond the limitations of RN)
????SOUND, GRAPHICS, TEXT????
Carlos Salinas
CAR...@ROMEO.CALTECH.EDU
jpd0...@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu
> HyperCard for the NeXT <<very abbreviated>>
Why?