Metaphor Computer Systems: Difference between revisions

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{{short description|DefunctAmerican Integratedcomputer Computer Hardware/Software vendorcompany}}

{{use mdy dates|date=March 2021}}

{{use American English|date=March 2021}}

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| founders = {{ubl|[[David Liddle]]|Donald Massaro}}

| defunct = {{End date|1994}}

| fate = Acquired by [[IBM]] in 1991

| successor = [[#Meta5|Meta5]]

| products = Computer workstations and software

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| num_employees_year = <!-- Year of num_employees data (if known) -->

}}

'''Metaphor Computer Systems''' (1982–1994) was aan [[XeroxAmerican PARC]]computer spin-offcompany that created an advanced [[workstation]], [[database]] gateway, a unique graphical office interface, and software applications that "seamlessly integrate" data from both internal and external sources. The Metaphor machine, which pre-dated Apple's [[Macintosh]],<ref name="LATimes"/> was one of the first commercial workstations to offer a complete hardware/software package and a GUI, including "a wireless mouse and a wireless five-function key pad.".<ref name=Metaphor.AA1988>{{cite news

|newspaper=[[Advertising Age]] (adage.com)

|title=IBM, P&G, Nielsen back Metaphor

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==History==

{{Expand section|date=February 2024}}

[[David Liddle]] and Donald Massaro founded Metaphor in 1982 after leaving [[Xerox PARC]].<ref name="LATimes">{{cite news|title='IBM Gets Stake in Metaphor to Enhance Its PCs'

|url=http://articles.latimes.com/1988-04-19/business/fi-1256_1_metaphor-system|accessdate= 28 February 2012|newspaper=LA Times|date=19 April 1988}}</ref> By 1987, the company had an annual revenue of $39.7 million.<ref name="LATimes"/> In 1991, [[IBM]], one of its primary customers, acquired the company outright.<ref>{{cite news|title='Metaphor Chief Hired By I.B.M.'

|url=https://www.nytimeslatimes.com/1991/11/13/businessarchives/businessla-peoplexpm-metaphor1988-chief04-hired19-byfi-ibm1256-story.html?|accessdateaccess-date= 28 February 2012|newspaper=New YorkLA Times|date=1319 NovemberApril 19911988}}</ref> By 1987, the company had an annual revenue of $39.7 million.<ref name="LATimes"/> In 1991, [[IBM]], one of its primary customers, acquired the company outright.<ref>{{cite news|title='Metaphor Chief Hired By I.B.M.'

|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/11/13/business/business-people-metaphor-chief-hired-by-ibm.html?|accessdate= 28 February 2012|newspaper=New York Times|date=13 November 1991}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Bass |first1=Thomas A. |title=Think Tanked |url=https://www.wired.com/1999/12/interval/#:~:text=Metaphor%20Computer |access-date=2 March 2025 |work=Wired Magazine |date=1 December 1999}}</ref>

===Patriot Partners===

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===Meta5===

In March 2000, IBM licensed the Metaphor IBM Intelligent Decision Server (IDS) technology to Relational Development Systems (RDS), which was renamed Meta5.<ref>{{cite web |url=http https://www.meta5.com/M5AboutUs/History.aspabout

|title=Meta5About Company History |accessdate=2007-05-02meta5}}</ref>

==Product overview==

===Hardware===

TheReleased in September 1984, the Metaphor workstation had ainfrared wireless input devices: keyboard, wireless mouse, wireless numeric pad, and a wireless 5five-function keypad. AllThis thesewas the first commercial appearance of cordless input devices like mouse, etc. The input devices docked in the desktop workstation where they were recharged. 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 Size. Workstations were connected with Ethernet. The industrialworkstations designwere of[[Motorola the68000]]-based, workstationnetworked was done bywith [[Mike NuttallEthernet]] of Matrix Product Design. It won a gold medal from the IDSA. The workstation itself was engineered by James Yurchenco at David Kelley Design. Both Matrix, and Davidcontained Kelley1 DesignMB were precursors of [[IDEO]]RAM.

The industrial design of the workstation was done by [[Mike Nuttall]] of Matrix Product Design. It won a gold medal from the IDSA. The workstation itself was engineered by James Yurchenco at David Kelley Design. Both Matrix and David Kelley Design were precursors of [[IDEO]].

Two different workstations models were produced. Workstation One had an external electronics enclosure. Workstation Two had integrated electronics. A Workstation Three, which included a color screen, was designed through final prototypes, but was never taken into production.

Two different workstations models were produced. '''Workstation One''' had an external electronics enclosure. '''Workstation Two''' had integrated electronics. A '''Workstation Three''', which included a color screen, was designed through final prototypes, but was never taken into production.

In August 1988, the '''Workstation 2XP''' was released which adapted a standard PC into a Metaphor workstation using a 68000-based co-processor card with 2 MB RAM, Ethernet adapter, three-button mouse, and 15-inch color monitor.<ref>

{{cite journal

|last1=Stephens |first1=Mark |date=September 5, 1988 |page=12 |title=Metaphor DIS Turns ATs Into Workstations

|journal=[[InfoWorld]] |volume=10 |issue=36

|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gjoEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA12}}</ref>

Metaphor released [[i386|80386]]-based workstations in July 1989: 16 MHz 386SX-based '''Model 216''' and 20 MHz 386-based '''Model 220''', each with 4 MB RAM.<ref name=LaPlante/>

===GUI Origins===

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|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cTwEAAAAMBAJ&q=%22metaphor%22+(%22liddle%22+OR+%22dis%22+OR+%22batch%22+OR+%22capsule%22)&pg=PA18

|title=Metaphor provides front-end tools for desktop interfaces

|author=Scott Mace |date=March 15, 1993 |page=18 |accessdate=March 17, 2021}}</ref><ref name=LaPlante>{{cite journal

|last1=LaPlante |first1=Alice |date=July 24, 1989 |page=26 |title=Metaphor Workstations Run OS/2, DOS, and DIS

|journal=[[InfoWorld]] |volume=11 |issue=30

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===Capsule===

The heart of the Metaphor DIS system was the Capsule. Basically, a capsule was a simplified BATCH program. Because Metaphor applications were built so they communicated with each other, they could be moved into a folder and automated in a "Capsule". (The name was taken from the mannedcrewed space capsules of the time.)<ref name=Metaphor.IWorld1993/>

The functionality of the Word Processor, Spreadsheet, and Data Retrieval tools were no better than their Microsoft Office counterparts (in fact, they had a smaller sub-set of features than Office). The primary advantage of Metaphor's system was the degree to which applications were linked together. Complex reiterative data-retrieval jobs were able to be created on-the-fly by a user with no programming knowledge.<ref name=Metaphor.IBM>{{cite web

|url=https://www.ibm.com/common/ssi/cgi-bin/ssialias?appname=skmwww%26htmlfid=897%252FENUS490-130%26infotype=AN%26subtype=CA%26mhsrc=ibmsearch_a%26mhq=examining

|title=Meet new Granite models with vision and reasoning|website=[[IBM]] }}</ref>

|title=New Data Interpreation System Courses}}</ref> <!--- "Interpreation" (SIC!) -->

A user could visually drag fields from multiple databases into the Data Retrieval tool (which would generate its own SQL code based on the fields, links and criteria displayed) and send the output directly into a spreadsheet for sorting, calculations, and graphs. The report could then be sent into a pre-formatted Word Processing document, sent to the printer, and even e-mailed to a pre-designated distribution list. The whole process would repeat for each SKU, Region, Price Code, etc. without any human interaction.

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[[Category:Defunct computer companies of the United States]]

[[Category:Defunct software companies of the United States]]

[[Category:Defunct computer hardware companies]]

[[Category:Defunct computer systems companies]]

[[Category:Software companies based in the San Francisco Bay Area]]

[[Category:Software companies based in Mountain View, California]][[Category:Xerox spin-offs]]