Dynamic pointers: an abstraction for indicative manipulation
Alan John Dix · Formal Methods · 1989
A discussion is on a formal model of interactive systems: dynamic pointers. This model is useful, not only as a formal description tool, but also as a key to the informal understanding of certain issues and as an implementation technique. The focus of the article is on manipulation by which is meant 'doing things to things'. This is a rather wide definition, which at its simplest can be thought of as editing but at its richest encompasses virtually all interaction. The author goes on to discuss: modes of manipulation, mediated interaction, relating levels by translating pointers, changing objects with dynamic pointers and dynamic pointers for system integration.