The Virtual Window: From Alberti to Microsoft

Citation

Calvert, P. (2007), "The Virtual Window: From Alberti to Microsoft", The Electronic Library, Vol. 25 No. 3, pp. 375-376. https://doi.org/10.1108/02640470710754896

This is an enthralling scholarly account of the theory and practice of using windows and screens as a visual metaphor. Starting with Alberti's instruction to all painters to regard the picture frame as an aperta finestra, Friedberg sets off with complete confidence on a historical sweep of immense proportions, to arrive at the use of windows in modern computers and other modern media. This sort of historical broad brush demands considerable knowledge on the part of the author, and to a lesser extent, of course, on the reader. It draws on the ideas of artists such as Alberti, and on philosophical theories of Descartes, Heidegger, Bergson and Virilio.

The text is supplemented by many useful images (the playful paintings of Magritte serve to make some good points). The index is full and useful. The author's notes, which run to almost 100 pages of quite dense type, are a testimony to the scholarship that lies behind the text.

This might, as first sight, appear to be an obscure subject and not especially related to information management. Windows, though, have become such a dominant metaphor in computing that it has huge relevance to any studies involving the computer interface and how humans try to make sense of it. Perhaps the use by Firefox of multiple tabs instead of endless new windows is recognition of the confusion we have all experienced. In a challenging comment, Friedman wonders whether the use of multiple windows on a computer screen might be the end of perspective. Good design on a computer screen, it should be remembered, still uses the same principles developed centuries ago and honed by artists ever since. Graphic designers know this very well, but unfortunately few IT people have the same knowledge, or even the sense that they need to understand good design before launching into creating system interfaces, web pages, and the like. If only they would read this book it would do some good, but I have my doubts if the audience that really should read this book will be the ones to turn its pages.

I recommend this book to computer science collections, as well as media studies and information management. It is a handsome book physically and is being sold at a very good price.