Metaphor Computer Systems

Metaphor Computer Systems 1982(?)-1992

A Xerox PARC spin-off that created an advanced workstation, database gateway, a unique graphical office GUI, and software applications that communicate. The company was acquired by one of its chief customers IBM in 1992. Although it achieved some commercial success, it never achieved the fame of the Apple Macintosh, or somewhat later Microsoft Windows.

The company was founded by David Liddle and Don Massaro. The head of engineering was Charles Irby.

Hardware

A Metaphor workstation was lightweight and efficient. It has a wireless mouse and a wireless 5 function keypad. Objects on the desktop and open applications had a uniform command set that could be controlled by the keypad which had "Copy, Move, Delete, Options, and (Create?). Workstations were connected with Ethernet.

GUI

Xerox PARC had in 1979 developed the Alto, the first computer with a bitmap display, mouse and a desktop metaphor as a graphical user interface (GUI). Xerox commercialized it as the Star. David Liddle was head of Business Development at Xerox and obtained keen insights from customers. Although Xerox thought their GUI systems would sell more Xerox machines, businesses really wanted access to data bases. The Metaphor GUI provided a unique visualization of end to end elements in an enterprise. Everything from database gateway, to desktop analysis application in the form of spreadsheet and charting, and finally to email and printing tools. Because these applications were build in a way that they communicated to each other, they could be moved into and automated in a "Capsule". The name taken from the manned space capsules of the time. Even in today's GUI designs, this concept has never been attempted because it requires the interoperation of every application, a uniform dataflow model, and a communication protocol useable by a supervisor in a programatic way.

Patriot Partners

As the company grew, it found it had an ideal product for brand managers at companies like Proctor and Gamble, who bought their systems hardware from IBM. Metaphor and IBM created a venture called Patriot Partners that eventually included Apple Computer. The attempt was to create a organization that could produce a solid business line that could compete with Apple and Microsoft. Rather than capitalize the venture, IBM purchased Metaphor in 1992.

Metaphor was located at 1965 Charleston Road, Mountain View California.