Iris: design of an user interface program for symbolic algebra

ABSTRACT

We present the design of a user interface program that can be used with Maple and other symbolic algebra packages. Through the use of a standard communications protocol to such a program, symbolic algebra packages can shed the bulk of code not directly related to algebraic manipulations but can still use the facilities of a powerful user interface. This interface program is designed to be used on a variety of workstations in a consistent fashion.

REFERENCES

• Abd85: K. Abdali, Personal communication April, 1085.
• Cha85: B.W. Char, K.O. Geddes, G.H. Gonnet, and S.M. Watt, Maple User'8 Guide, WATCOM Publications Ltd., Waterloo, Ontario, Canada (1985). Incorporates the Maple tutorial "First Leaves", and "Maple Reference Manual, 4th edition".
• Cha85a: B.W. Char, K.O. Geddes, and G.H. Gonnet, Record of the Second Annual Maple Workshop, in preparation. 1985.
• Fos84: Gregg Foster, DREAMS: Display Representation of Algebraic Manipulation Systems, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, 1984
• Smi86: C. J. Smith , N. Soiffer, MathScribe: a user interface for computer algebra systems, Proceedings of the fifth ACM symposium on Symbolic and algebraic computation, p.7-12, July 21-23, 1986, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada [doi>10.1145/32439.32441]

INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  I. Computing Methodologies
  I.1 SYMBOLIC AND ALGEBRAIC MANIPULATION
      I.1.2 Algorithms
          Subjects: Algebraic algorithms

Additional Classification:
  D. Software
  D.2 SOFTWARE ENGINEERING
      D.2.2 Design Tools and Techniques
          Subjects: User interfaces

  H. Information Systems
  H.1 MODELS AND PRINCIPLES
      H.1.2 User/Machine Systems
          Subjects: Human factors

  I. Computing Methodologies
  I.1 SYMBOLIC AND ALGEBRAIC MANIPULATION
      I.1.3 Languages and Systems

          Nouns: Maple

General Terms:
Design, Human Factors, Theory