Large Human-Machine Information Spaces

Abstract

An I-SPACE is a large human-machine informHtion space, designed especially for environr,ent s where large amounts of aistributed information, and tools for using that information, must be interfaced to a vide variety of users in real time. The important characteristics of an I-SPACC: are that it presents a powerful, but uniform and simple interface to all users, that it permits users to synthesize information from diverse parts of the I-SPACE for simultaneous viewinc and manipulation v&a their screens, and that it accommoaates a cluttered desktop environment, where activities can be set asi' de \but kept up to date by real-time mechanisms , then later returned to. We describe the Goddard -SPACE, a prototype system for Goddard Space Flight Center, an archetype of organizations in need of an I-SPACE. This ISPACE is presently running on a VAX, and will soon incorp.ora te a lar~e mui tiprocessor to handle real-time schedul1ng and event-driven pattern matchers.