The user programmability of a multimedia workstation for fastpacket networks

摘要

The authors describe a user interface and nonprocedural language(NPL) designed for multimedia services and implemented on experimentalmultimedia workstations connected via a fast packet network. Thewindow-based user interface contains a set of databases that representcalls in progress and NPL programs; the user initiates calls based onthese NPL programs, including simple voice calls, image transfers, orinteractive editing. Menus let the user place new calls and easilybrowse or modify existing calls. Any conventional program using thestandard character I/O interface of UNIX can be involved in a multimediacall