USER INTERFACE AND DIGITAL REMOTE SENSING ANALYSIS: 
Reconciling Program Development, Applications Research 
Data Production and User Interface During System Design. 
Berne Crush Proceedings: 
PERCEPTRON Computing Inc. Commission II Symposium for 
4800 Dufferin Street the XVth ISPRS Congress 
Toronto, Ontsrio M3H 558 Rio de Janerio 
Canada June 1984 
ABSTRACT 
Four hypothetical classes of digital image processing 
sustems for remote sensing data production and analusis are 
described in conjuction with problems typically encountered 
in their software design, especially as this applies to the 
user interface. 
A short discussion of software system design considerations, 
again with special reference to the user interface, is 
followed bu a broad-spectrum definition of the 'compleat' 
user interface. 
Finally. a short. dissertation on .PERCEPTRON'S machine 
independent, all-softuare entry, EASI/PACE. 
Introduction 
For purposes of this discussion, I will hypothesize four 
classes of digital image processing systems, tuo at 
production level and two at applications level. The systems 
that each of us may be familiar with probably do not fit 
neatly into this scheme. but so it is with all forms. of 
classification from the biological to the unsupervised. 
I will describe uhat I perceive to be the state of the user 
interface in many of these systems —— or at least the ones I 
happen to be familiar with. With respect to any criticisms 
I may make. please keep in mind that good programmers can 
make machines do virtually anything, but that few of them 
have been exposed to the full range of design considerations 
for the user interface. 
Indeed, I have read descriptions of what appear to be very 
good interfacing techniques, and I think that several groups 
are, by now, paying this problem the attention it deserves. 
In the Hofman et al 198583 ERIM paper outlining the MIDAS 
project, the Transportable Applications Executive (TAE) is 
described. This a common user interface providing menuing. 
on-line help and a command language with parameter passing 
and branching. Elsewhere in this same paper Hofman et al 
write: 
21