Metaphor Computer Systems

Metaphor Computer Systems was an American computer company active from 1982 until 1994. Founded by former Xerox PARC personnel David Liddle and Donald Massaro, the company pursued an integrated approach to business computing that combined custom hardware, a graphical user interface, database access, analysis tools, and office applications. Its central proposition was that business users should be able to retrieve information from multiple sources, analyze it, prepare reports, and distribute the results through a visually represented workflow rather than by writing programs or manually moving data between unrelated applications. Metaphor’s first major product was a workstation introduced in September 1984. It was based on the Motorola 68000 processor, included Ethernet networking and 1 MB of memory, and was sold as part of a broader hardware-and-software environment. The workstation was notable for its infrared wireless input devices, including a keyboard, mouse, numeric pad, and five-function keypad. The input devices could be docked for recharging or connected by cables when necessary. Logitech designed the early cordless mouse, while industrial and mechanical design work was carried out by firms that later became associated with IDEO. The product’s industrial design received a gold medal from the Industrial Designers Society of America. The company’s software environment was branded as the Data Interpretation System, or DIS. It was a decision-support environment in which icons represented tools such as database gateways, spreadsheets, plotting, electronic mail, word processing, and printing. Arrows linked these components into a visible workflow, and animated behavior indicated when a workflow was running. A group of linked operations was called a Capsule. Capsules allowed users to automate recurring processes, including retrieving fields from multiple databases, generating SQL from visual selections, sending results to spreadsheets for calculations and charts, placing the output into formatted documents, printing the documents, and distributing them by email. Metaphor’s competitive distinction was therefore less the depth of any individual office application than the integration among applications and data sources. Its system anticipated later interests in end-user programming, visual workflow, business intelligence, and enterprise information integration. The company achieved some commercial success and reported annual revenue of $39.7 million in 1987, but it did not reach the market visibility of the Apple Macintosh or Microsoft Windows. Metaphor revised its hardware strategy during the late 1980s. Workstation 2XP, released in August 1988, adapted a standard personal computer into a Metaphor workstation through a 68000-based coprocessor card, additional memory, Ethernet, a three-button mouse, and a color monitor. In July 1989, the company introduced 80386-based systems, including the 16 MHz Model 216 and 20 MHz Model 220, each with 4 MB of memory. A color-screen Workstation Three reached the final prototype stage but was not put into production. In 1990, Metaphor stopped selling its own hardware and joined IBM in creating Patriot Partners. The venture was intended to establish a business line around object-oriented software and to market Metaphor’s business-analysis software for IBM PS/2 systems. Rather than capitalize the venture as a continuing independent operation, IBM acquired Metaphor’s software division outright in 1991. IBM operated the software business as a wholly owned independent subsidiary, while the hardware and field-repair activities were separated into Sequence Support Services. Sequence Support Services ceased operations in May 1993, and Metaphor itself ceased operations in October 1994. In March 2000, IBM licensed Metaphor’s Intelligent Decision Server technology to Relational Development Systems, which subsequently adopted the name Meta5. Metaphor’s principal legacy is its early attempt to make database integration and repeatable business analysis accessible through a graphical, interconnected workspace.

Metaphor Computer Systems was established in 1982 by David Liddle and Donald Massaro after both founders left Xerox PARC. The company developed an integrated computing system aimed at business users who needed to work with information distributed across enterprise databases and external sources. Rather than treating the workstation, database, spreadsheet, reporting, and communications functions as separate products, Metaphor designed them as parts of a coordinated environment. The first Metaphor workstation was released in September 1984. It used a Motorola 68000 processor, Ethernet networking, and 1 MB of RAM. Its most distinctive hardware feature was a set of infrared wireless input devices: a keyboard, mouse, numeric pad, and five-function keypad. The devices could be recharged in the workstation or used with removable cables. Logitech designed the initial cordless mouse, making the machine an early commercial example of wireless computer input. The workstation’s industrial design was created by Mike Nuttall of Matrix Product Design, and its engineering was performed by James Yurchenco at David Kelley Design. Both design organizations were predecessors of IDEO. The design received a gold medal from the Industrial Designers Society of America. Metaphor produced two principal early workstation models. Workstation One used an external electronics enclosure, while Workstation Two integrated the electronics into the main unit. Workstation Three was developed through final prototypes and included a color display, but it never entered production. In August 1988, Workstation 2XP adapted a standard personal computer into a Metaphor system using a 68000-based coprocessor card, 2 MB of RAM, Ethernet, a three-button mouse, and a 15-inch color monitor. In July 1989, Metaphor introduced 80386-based models: the 16 MHz 386SX Model 216 and the 20 MHz 386 Model 220, each with 4 MB of memory. The software environment was called the Data Interpretation System, or DIS, a form of decision-support system. Its graphical interface represented database gateways, spreadsheets, charts, email, word processing, and printing as interconnected applications. A workflow was assembled by joining these tools with arrows; the links could be animated as the workflow executed. Metaphor called a collection of linked operations a Capsule. A Capsule could automate a repeated business process without requiring the user to write conventional code. For example, a user could visually select fields from different databases and specify links and conditions in a data-retrieval tool. The system generated the relevant SQL, transferred the results to a spreadsheet, performed calculations and produced charts, inserted the output into a formatted word-processing document, printed it, and sent it to a predefined email list. The process could be repeated for categories such as products, regions, or price codes. This integration was the platform’s central advantage, even though its individual office applications were comparatively narrower than later mainstream office suites. Metaphor achieved meaningful commercial activity and had annual revenue of $39.7 million by 1987. However, it remained less widely known than the Apple Macintosh and Microsoft Windows. Its business model changed significantly in 1990, when it stopped selling proprietary hardware and joined IBM in forming Patriot Partners. The venture sought to build a software business around object-oriented technology and to market Metaphor analysis software for IBM PS/2 computers. In 1991, IBM purchased the Metaphor software division rather than continuing Patriot Partners as a separately capitalized venture. IBM maintained the software operation as a wholly owned independent subsidiary. Metaphor’s hardware and field-repair business was spun off into Sequence Support Services, which ceased operations in May 1993. Metaphor Computer Systems itself ceased operations in October 1994. The technology continued to have a later afterlife: in March 2000, IBM licensed the Metaphor IBM Intelligent Decision Server technology to Relational Development Systems, which adopted the name Meta5. Metaphor is therefore historically significant as an early effort to unify graphical computing, enterprise databases, end-user workflow construction, and automated business reporting in one commercial system.

• 2000

  Metaphor technology licensed to RDS

  [1]Metaphor Computer Systemsen.wikipedia.org

  IBM licensed Intelligent Decision Server technology to Relational Development Systems, which was renamed Meta5.

• 1994

  Metaphor ceases operations

  [1]Metaphor Computer Systemsen.wikipedia.org

  Metaphor Computer Systems ended operations in October.

• 1993

  Sequence Support Services closes

  [1]Metaphor Computer Systemsen.wikipedia.org

  The separate hardware and field-repair operation created after the IBM transaction ceased operations in May.

• 1991

  IBM acquires the software division

  [1]Metaphor Computer Systemsen.wikipedia.org

  IBM acquired Metaphor’s software division and operated it as a wholly owned independent subsidiary.

• 1990

  Hardware sales end and Patriot Partners is formed

  [1]Metaphor Computer Systemsen.wikipedia.org

  Metaphor stopped selling its own hardware and formed Patriot Partners with IBM to pursue software distribution and an object-oriented business-software line.

• 1989

  80386 workstation models introduced

  [1]Metaphor Computer Systemsen.wikipedia.org

  The company introduced the Model 216 and Model 220, based on 80386-family processors.

• 1988

  Workstation 2XP introduced

  [1]Metaphor Computer Systemsen.wikipedia.org

  Metaphor released Workstation 2XP, which adapted a standard PC with a 68000 coprocessor and Metaphor-specific peripherals and software.

• 1987

  Annual revenue reaches $39.7 million

  [1]Metaphor Computer Systemsen.wikipedia.org

  The company recorded annual revenue of $39.7 million, reflecting commercial adoption of its workstation and software platform.

• 1984

  First Metaphor workstation released

  [1]Metaphor Computer Systemsen.wikipedia.org

  Metaphor introduced its first commercial workstation, combining Motorola 68000 hardware, Ethernet networking, a graphical interface, and infrared wireless input devices.

• 1982

  Metaphor is founded

  [1]Metaphor Computer Systemsen.wikipedia.org

  David Liddle and Donald Massaro founded Metaphor Computer Systems after leaving Xerox PARC.

An integrated enterprise-computing platform focused on visual data retrieval, analysis, workflow automation, and distribution of business information.

• Computer workstation · 1984

  Metaphor Workstation

  Metaphor’s original workstation family combined Motorola 68000-based hardware, Ethernet networking, a graphical user interface, and a complete set of infrared wireless input devices. The keyboard, mouse, numeric pad, and five-function keypad could be recharged in the workstation or connected by cable. Workstation One used an external electronics enclosure, while Workstation Two integrated the electronics. A planned color Workstation Three reached prototype completion but was not commercially produced.

• Computer workstation · 1988

  Workstation 2XP

  Released in August 1988, Workstation 2XP adapted a standard personal computer to the Metaphor environment. It used a 68000-based coprocessor card, 2 MB of RAM, an Ethernet adapter, a three-button mouse, and a 15-inch color monitor, extending the company’s software and workflow environment beyond its earlier custom workstation designs.

• Computer workstation · 1989

  Model 216 and Model 220

  Introduced in July 1989, these systems brought 80386-family processors to the Metaphor product line. Model 216 used a 16 MHz 386SX processor, while Model 220 used a 20 MHz 386 processor. Both were specified with 4 MB of RAM and were designed to run Metaphor’s integrated business-computing environment.

• Decision-support software

  Data Interpretation System

  DIS was Metaphor’s graphical decision-support environment. It linked database access, data retrieval, spreadsheets, plotting, word processing, email, and printing into a visual workflow. Its purpose was to let business users move data through analysis and reporting stages without conventional programming.

• Workflow automation

  Capsule

  A Capsule was a reusable collection of connected Metaphor applications and operations. Users could assemble a process visually and execute it repeatedly, including database retrieval, spreadsheet calculations, chart creation, document generation, printing, and email distribution. The concept functioned as a simplified, user-constructed batch program.

• Business-analysis software technology

  Intelligent Decision Server

  Metaphor’s Intelligent Decision Server technology represented the continuing software legacy of the company’s decision-support work. IBM later licensed the technology to Relational Development Systems in 2000; that company subsequently adopted the name Meta5.

• 1991

  IBM acquires Metaphor’s software divisionM&A

  Background

  IBM was one of Metaphor’s primary customers and had partnered with the company through Patriot Partners.

  Action taken

  IBM purchased the Metaphor software division outright and operated it as a wholly owned independent subsidiary.

  Aftermath

  Metaphor’s hardware and field-repair division was spun off as Sequence Support Services, which later ceased operations. Metaphor itself ended operations in 1994.

  Source

• 1990

  End proprietary hardware sales and pursue IBM PS/2 softwareStrategy

  Background

  Metaphor had developed a distinctive but relatively specialized integrated workstation platform, while IBM’s personal-computer ecosystem offered a broader hardware base.

  Action taken

  The company stopped selling its own hardware and worked with IBM through Patriot Partners to market Metaphor business-analysis software on IBM PS/2 systems.

  Aftermath

  The partnership did not remain an independently capitalized venture. IBM acquired Metaphor’s software division in 1991, and the hardware and repair activities were separated into Sequence Support Services.

  Source

1. 1Metaphor Computer Systemsen.wikipedia.org