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- Types of software:
- ==================
-
- Every 10 years, a new class of software appears to support mental
- processes beyond human capabilities. Consider this:
-
- ** Databases ... a 25-year-old method for manipulating very large lists.
-
- ** Word processors ... a 20-year-old method for editing planes of text.
-
- ** Spreadsheets ... a 15-year-old concept for changing numbers in tables.
-
- ** Idea processors ... a 10-year-old MaxThink <link61> method using
- outlines for conceptual, structural, and perceptual thinking.
-
- ** Network processors ... a 5-year-old Houdini <link62> method using
- networks for generalizing, abstracting, and checking
- completeness in thinking.
- Value
- ===== Rather than putting a bigger crank on adding machines, opening file
- drawers faster, or typing more beautifully, significant software
- should change your view of your world or yourself, or put relevant
- knowledge at your fingertips. Textual databases <link26> and
- expert systems <link64> can't do either task as well as hypertext!
-
- ==== <g SOFTWARE> 3 links in glossary topic
- ==== <g TYPES> 3 links in glossary topic