Hewlett-Packard Labs: Picture Programming Group

  • On a daily basis, people use data-driven applications, such as contact managers, web stores, and financial planners.
  • My project focused on developing toolkits for non-programmers to make custom applications from existing databases.
  • Application areas included desktop applications, telecommunications management and hospital staff management.
  • Resulting ideas and technology formed basis of Exemplary Software tools and solutions for supply-chain management.
  • The project resulted in numerous lectures and papers, including <mine > and <group>

ICBE: Picture Programming for Data Flow Design

The ICBE toolset was designed for non-programmers, making it simple to make custom data-driven applications.

The visual language for ICBE was based on existing developments in  Query By Example (QBE).

 

As in many current visual programming environments, it is easy to drag-drop widgets from toolbars to paint an interfaces, such as the contact manager to the left.

 

The heart of data-based interfaces (such as contact managers) is specifying data flow and control flow.

The image on the left shows how ICBE allows painting flow lines, connecting a database to the interface.

Queries could be entered directly in screen widgets using QBE syntax.

Using ICBE, there is little difference between visualization, navigation and query of information. It is this flexibility which supports drag-drop interaction design for informational interfaces.

Tablez: Connecting Visualization, Navigation and Query
The Tablez toolset supported drag-drop definition of more complicated queries.
The Tablez toolset incorporated the ICBE techniques, making it simple to transform queries to alternate views.
The same techniques can be used to paint data-driven web pages.

Visual Telecommunications Management Toolkit (Codename: Dolphin)

The original HP Telecom Management Toolkit provided only trivial graphical views, and a complicated management language in SmallTalk.

The new toolkit I designed sported multiple graphical views, including property tables in-line with the graphical view. Using the ICBE techniques, it is easy to switch between navigating the information base (shown in image on the left) and writing queries (shown on the right).