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Why does the spreadsheet work … … and how can we improve it?
A user interface perspective on the foundations of spreadsheets.
Alan BlackwellComputer LaboratoryCambridge University
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Outline
Why the spreadsheet was invented Which features were critical to success HCI research in spreadsheet use Where next?
Grounds for critique of current products Possible product futures Possible futures for spreadsheet users
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Timescale of UI Evolution
1940s:Scientific instruments
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Timescale of UI Evolution
1940s:Scientific instruments
1950s:Mathematical tools
DIMENSION A(11)
READ A
2 DO 3,8,11 J=1,11
3 I=11-J
Y=SQRT(ABS(A(I+1)))+5*A(I+1)**3
IF (400>=Y) 8,4
4 PRINT I,999.
GOTO 2
8 PRINT I,Y
11 STOP
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Timescale of UI Evolution
1940s:Scientific instruments
1950s:Mathematical tools
1960s:Data files & records
![Page 6: Why does the spreadsheet work … … and how can we improve it? A user interface perspective on the foundations of spreadsheets. Alan Blackwell Computer Laboratory](https://reader030.vdocument.in/reader030/viewer/2022032705/56649dab5503460f94a99639/html5/thumbnails/6.jpg)
Timescale of UI Evolution
1940s:Scientific instruments
1950s:Mathematical tools
1960s:Data files & records
1970s:Command languages
OBEY
YESSIR
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Timescale of UI Evolution
1940s:Scientific instruments
1950s:Mathematical tools
1960s:Data files & records
1970s:Command languages
1980s:Bitmapped screens, direct manipulation
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“Modern” UI Essentials
Drawing e.g. Sketchpad
1963
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“Modern” UI Essentials
Drawing e.g. Sketchpad
1963 Presentation
e.g. NLS 1968 (also hypertext,
online collaboration …)
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“Modern” UI Essentials
Drawing e.g. Sketchpad
1963 Presentation
e.g. NLS 1968 (also hypertext,
online collaboration …)
Word Processing e.g. Bravo 1973-77
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Inventing the Spreadsheet (1978)
Bricklin’s concept: “electronic
blackboard” closest to NLS
collaboration tools? Frankston’s
optimisation: fast, compact &
responsive Fylstra’s market:
individual ownership and control via PCs
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Outline
Why the spreadsheet was invented Which features were critical to success HCI research in spreadsheet use Where next?
Grounds for critique of current products Possible product futures Possible futures for spreadsheet users
![Page 13: Why does the spreadsheet work … … and how can we improve it? A user interface perspective on the foundations of spreadsheets. Alan Blackwell Computer Laboratory](https://reader030.vdocument.in/reader030/viewer/2022032705/56649dab5503460f94a99639/html5/thumbnails/13.jpg)
From Apple II to IBM PC / MS-DOS
PC Functionally equivalent to the Apple II (no mouse, no bitmapped display)
Business software emphasis simple databases word processing Lotus 1-2-3 replaced VisiCalc, included
charts and plots (as well as some database and text formatting)
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Direct manipulation
Original Mac applications were “creative” writing, drawing, painting derived from Kay’s vision of creative machine
Business market developments desktop publishing created business market Apple asked Microsoft to develop a SS
Excel offered direct manipulation benefits of the Mac point and click, menus, windows, prompts
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The Spreadsheet “Metaphor”
HCI textbooks propose metaphor as starting point for UI design. But there is little evidence that the paper
SS ever influenced the development of SS software.
Most benefits historically derived from UI features of other software categories.
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Outline
Why the spreadsheet was invented Which features were critical to success HCI research in spreadsheet use Where next?
Grounds for critique of current products Possible product futures Possible futures for spreadsheet users
![Page 17: Why does the spreadsheet work … … and how can we improve it? A user interface perspective on the foundations of spreadsheets. Alan Blackwell Computer Laboratory](https://reader030.vdocument.in/reader030/viewer/2022032705/56649dab5503460f94a99639/html5/thumbnails/17.jpg)
Experimental extensions
UI builder functions (Myers) Navigation aids (Rao & Card) Debugging aids (Burnett et. al.) Typing and inference (Erwig) Gesture interfaces (Wolf, Burnett) Approximation, graphics (Lewis) Multi-user support (various) Tutoring and help systems (various) Voice interfaces (various)
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Spreadsheets in end-user context
Bonnie Nardi, A Small Matter of Programming (MIT Press 1993) notes: SSs are immediately useful for real tasks SSs support direct manipulation SSs have limited control constructs SSs lead to collaborative communities
But SSs are: Not automatically easy to learn (Hendry
& Green) Liable to contain errors (Panko, others)
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Mental models of spreadsheets
The user’s “mental model” is critical in HCI But hard to say what goes on inside a
programmer’s head! Saarilouma & Sajaniemi (1989) showed SS
users employ visual images Navarro Prieto (1998) found visual images
help SS users understood dataflow Petre & Blackwell (2000) note that many
programmers report experiencing images
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Some theoretical design principles
Cognitive Dimensions of Notations Discussion vocabulary for significant
design attributes and tradeoffs (see Green & Petre in JVLC 1996,
Blackwell & Green in Carroll, ed. 2003.) Surprise, Explain, Reward
We’ve built it, but will they come? (see Robertson et. al., CHI 2004) See also Blackwell’s Attention
Investment theory of abstraction use
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Outline
Why the spreadsheet was invented Which features were critical to success HCI research in spreadsheet use Where next?
Grounds for critique of current products Possible product futures Possible futures for spreadsheet users
![Page 22: Why does the spreadsheet work … … and how can we improve it? A user interface perspective on the foundations of spreadsheets. Alan Blackwell Computer Laboratory](https://reader030.vdocument.in/reader030/viewer/2022032705/56649dab5503460f94a99639/html5/thumbnails/22.jpg)
Lessons from history & research
Account for collaboration Be fast and responsive Empower individuals Provide a flat, imageable world Support direct manipulation
Do current products retain these benefits?
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Outline
Why the spreadsheet was invented Which features were critical to success HCI research in spreadsheet use Where next?
Grounds for critique of current products Possible product futures Possible futures for spreadsheet users
![Page 24: Why does the spreadsheet work … … and how can we improve it? A user interface perspective on the foundations of spreadsheets. Alan Blackwell Computer Laboratory](https://reader030.vdocument.in/reader030/viewer/2022032705/56649dab5503460f94a99639/html5/thumbnails/24.jpg)
Features are not the answer
Applications are developed in SSs because of their low entry cost, seldom on engineering grounds. 57% of 5500 SSs had no formulas
Can SS functions be partitioned into developer and end-user sets? How would the transition be managed?
Can we provide engineering benefits to end users? EUSES, e.g. Burnett, Erwig, Blackwell
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Outline
Why the spreadsheet was invented Which features were critical to success HCI research in spreadsheet use Where next?
Grounds for critique of current products Possible product futures Possible futures for spreadsheet users
![Page 26: Why does the spreadsheet work … … and how can we improve it? A user interface perspective on the foundations of spreadsheets. Alan Blackwell Computer Laboratory](https://reader030.vdocument.in/reader030/viewer/2022032705/56649dab5503460f94a99639/html5/thumbnails/26.jpg)
User simplification
If the SS has been moving away from its roots, can users (or organisations) return? Templates Process definitions Reduced-feature standards Adapt open-source products
Any more options? (DISCUSS!)