[Fwd: Squeak as HyperCard for Linux]

[Doug Loss <dloss@csrlink.net>]

I'm taking a chance and forwarding this to the list without asking
Alan's explicit permission.  I figure that since I started my original
message by saying I represent seul-edu in this, his reply was for the
list in general and not for me specifically.  I especially like what he
says about Squeak's applicability from young children through
experienced programmers.  It fits right in with what we've been talking
about for simplified interfaces for standard programs rather than
specialized programs for children.

Since I'm in the eastern US and not wealthy, a trip to California in the
fall to visit the Media Research Group won't be on my schedule. 
However, I think it would be a very good idea for one or more of us to
make that visit and to report back to the group what he, she, or they
find out.  If you're close to, or have the wherewithal to travel to
Disney Imagineering, contact me privately and we'll see about getting
you in touch with Disney.  (We should also put in a pitch for porting
their educational software to Linux, although I doubt that this is the
appropriate group in Disney to make it happen).

Alan Kay wrote:
> 
> Doug --
> 
> One of our main aims with Squeak is to create a "HyperCard for the new
> century" -- this is a metaphor because the good parts of HyperCard (as were
> the good parts of what we did at Xerox PARC in the 70s) were used as
> inspiration rather than points of departure -- we have attempted to take a
> wholly new pass at the general problem of giving non-computerist end-users
> great expressive power.  Squeak runs on all the Internet platforms
> "bit-identically" (unlike Java) and thus any act of authoring can be sent
> anywhere and will run exactly the same.
>     The programming aspects are coming along pretty well, and there is a
> very large range of functionality already available, especially compared to
> HyperCard and HyperStudio. One of the biggest differences is that the range
> of authoring in Squeak extends continuously (and pretty smoothly) from
> projects that can be done by 1st graders, to those we normally think of as
> "HyperCard-like", to those we would think of as expert programmer projects.
> There is a very low threshold and "no ceiling" (i.e. the Squeak "OS" and
> "VM" are scripted in the same end-user language used by the children and
> teachers, and all are open to scrutiny and change). The distinctions
> between the authoring environments for the different kinds of authors are
> largely handled by filtered views and "fences" -- little children do not
> need to see what an experienced user wants to see, and the fences are there
> to prevent gratuitous damage, but to also permit unlimited scrutiny and
> change if so desired.
>      The best way for you to judge the developmental progress of this part
> of Squeak would be for you to visit us, see a demonstration, and chat about
> the prospects. Our summer is very tight, so a visit sometime in the Fall
> (or perhaps at OOPSLA) would be best.
> 
>      Some of us contributed to the development of HyperCard at Apple, and
> the experience there suggests that the largest percentage of effort by far
> will be to provide the many kinds of support needed by the kinds of users
> most likely to be attracted to HyperCard. Testing is also important,
> especially outside the teachers and children that we normally test with.
>      Our plan is to put forth (for free) some of the content and authoring
> for elementary age children in the late Fall, followed by the full-blown
> "HyperCard 2000" in the year 2000. Squeak runs on all the Internet
> platforms "bit-identical" (unlike Java) and thus any act of authoring can
> be sent anywhere and will run the same.
> 
> Cheers,
> 
> Alan (for the entire Media Research Group at Disney Imagineering)
> 
> >----------------------
> >>Date: Mon, 19 Jul 1999 18:52:43 -0400 (EDT)
> >>From: Doug Loss <dloss@csrlink.net>
> >>To: Dan.Ingalls@disney.com
> >>Subject: Squeak as HyperCard for Linux
> >>Status:
> >>
> >>I'm the leader of the education section of SEUL (Simple End-User Linux).
> >>We're
> >>working to foster educational applications of all sorts for Linux.
> >>Recently,
> >>we've been discussing the need for a HyperCard/HyperStudio-like IDE for
> >>Linux,
> >>something that would make it feasible for educators who aren't trained
> >>programmers to develop and maintain their own Linux applications.  If these
> >>apps were cross-platform to boot, we'd consider that a net win, but Linux
> >>availability is our primary concern.
> >>
> >>We discussed a number of possibilities, one of which was Squeak (of
> >>course).
> >>While a few of our people are familiar with Squeak, I'm largely not.  Do you
> >>think Squeak is something we should be looking at for this role?  If so, how
> >>close is it to being able to fill this role?  Is there anything we can do to
> >>help further its development (most of our coders are otherwise engaged,
> >>but I'm
> >>sure some of our educators would be interested in helping with testing,
> >>tutorials, etc.)?
> >>
> >>Let me know if you think Squeak might be appropriate for our use, and how
> >>our
> >>two groups might be able to benefit each other.
> >>
> >>Doug Loss            Always acknowledge a fault.  This will throw
> >>dloss@csrlink.net    those in authority off their guard and give
> >>(570) 326-3987       you the opportunity to commit more.
> >>                        Mark Twain
> >>

-- 
Doug Loss                 The difference between the right word and
Data Network Coordinator  the almost right word is the difference
Bloomsburg University     between lightning and a lightning bug.
dloss@bloomu.edu                Mark Twain