TMG-L Archives

Archiver > TMG > 2002-04 > 1018463640


From: "Ronald Boyd" <>
Subject: [TMG] The future is now (formerly Version 5 Cruelty)
Date: Wed, 10 Apr 2002 12:34:11 -0600
In-Reply-To: <NDBBJJMPJKPBEPNBFPGAAENPGCAA.John@JohnCardinal.com>


John,
You wrote:
> by the tool might appeal to people who are predominantly right-brained or
left-brain people trying to solve a right-brain problem.
> All in all, however, I don't see how anything learned from that particular
interface would apply to the design of a genealogical database application.

I don't understand about right/left brained. I think of myself as
simple-brained -- described most commonly (and perhaps more accurately) as
simple-minded. So let me try this again (and please, everyone, don't attack
me for things I didn't say but you wished I did. And don't try to solve
problems I don't have... it angers me and apparently irritates others as
well.)

First, let me review the Thesaurus thing. (Primarily because there were a
number of people who wrote to me that don't have broadband) When you enter a
word it appears in the center of the screen with related words spread out
around it, each attached to the center word. The closeness of the
relationship to the center word is shown by the brightness/dimness of the
outer words. By default, all relationships are shown but in the lower left
corner is a "joy stick" device that lets you give prominence to certain
relationships. For example by moving toward "Nouns," the appropriate outer
words get closer to the center word and become brighter. You, then, would
navigate around by clicking on an outer word to make it a center word.
Essentially, those are all the instructions you need to become an expert at
using this "Author's" tool. (There are additional instructions, however.)
Now, let me explain how my simple brain works (and then you can decide
whether the left or the right is doing all the work. So, when I first saw
Thesaurus, I said to myself. "Self, isn't genealogy about relationships. By
golly, I believe you are correct. Why didn't we think of that before. Well,
I guess, it must be because we are the simple-minded."

So, John, if you look at the Thesaurus and instead visualize, what in FTST
is called, an "Hour Glass Chart" you will "see" what I had in mind. Sort of
looking at what are in TMG called [Person View], [Family view], and [Tree
View] all at the same time (and being able to work without changing views...
or something. You know what I mean.) I see using the "Joy Stick" thingy as
moving the center name either exclusively to a separate family branch or
maybe father out the tree or closer to supporting data or... (My vision is
fading here.). Anyway, as "The Brain" demonstrates, ALL relationships to the
center person would be visible (Recall the brightness/dimness thing) and
each would be linked to supporting documentation. These related items would,
of course, include (but not be limited to) all notes, research, BMDB info,
etc. Not only that, but by moving to, for instance, RESEARCH you would see
all the relationships to that particularly research (and not lose the
connection to the center name). Anyway, I could go on but if I still haven't
made myself clear... well you know.
Now, the other issue: I wasn't attacking Bob V. or, at least, not directly.
Let's just blame my simple-mindedness for not pointing out the obvious -- I
am using TMG because it most closely matches my needs. I was merely pointing
out that if Bob is always going to be five-six years behind the curve,
someone will inevitably take his crown away.

(Again, everyone, please make all comments relevant to what I wrote.)

Ron
-----Original Message-----
From: John Cardinal [mailto:]
Sent: Tuesday, April 09, 2002 1:11 PM
To:
Subject: RE: [TMG] Version 5 Cruelty

<Snip>

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