Doom as an interface for process management

This paper explores a novel interface to a system administration task. Instead of creating an interface de novo for the task, the author modified a popular computer game, Doom, to perform useful work. The game was chosen for its appeal to the target audience of system administrators. The implementation described is not a mature application, but it illustrates important points about user interfaces and our relationship with computers. The application relies on a computer game vernacular rather than the simulations of physical reality found in typical navigable virtual environments. Using a computer game vocabulary may broaden an application's audience by providing an intuitive environment for children and non-technical users. In addition, the application highlights the adversarial relationships that exist in a computer and suggests a new resource allocation scheme. Keywords Cyberspace, Doom, first-person shooter, games, metaphors, operating systems, Post-Modernism, 3D user interfa...

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2001
• Where: CHI
• Authors: Dennis L. Chao
• Keywords: CHI 2001, Human Computer Interaction, Navigable Virtual Environments, Resource Allocation Scheme, User Interfaces