Newsgroups: comp.windows.x,comp.windows.misc,comp.human-factors
From: ematias@dgp.toronto.edu (Edgar Matias)
Subject: Re: GUIs Considered Harmful
Keywords: n
Organization: CSRI, University of Toronto
Date: 7 Sep 92 18:34:49 GMT


In article <1992Sep3.204645.25303@jarvis.csri.toronto.edu>, ematias@dgp.toronto.edu (Edg
ar Matias) writes:
> In article <1992Sep3.224317.8523@Princeton.EDU>
> qpliu@ernie.princeton.edu (q.p.liu) writes:
 
>> The problem with the mouse is that it disrupts the use of the
>> keyboard.
> This is a very keyboard-centric view of things.  You could very
> easily say that "the problem with the keyboard is that it disrupts
> the use of the mouse".
 
In article <1992Sep6.075748.17935@thunder.mcrcim.mcgill.edu>,
mouse@thunder.mcrcim.mcgill.edu (der Mouse) replies:
]
]Yes - except that there are very few applications that could be
]implemented to never use the keyboard.  Just about all
]non-inherently-graphical applications can be implemented to never use
]the mouse.  (A purely - or even mostly! - mouse-driven application

That's true, of course, and only a fool would argue that one device is
more important than the other.  It's all a matter of context.  I would
not "type" with a mouse, just as I would not steer my car/bike with a
keyboard.
 
> When you hold down the spacebar [a software utility] remaps the
> keyboard in a mirror image.  For example, if you want to type the
> letter K (MIDDLE finger, RIGHT hand) with your left hand, simply hold
> down the spacebar and hit the D key (MIDDLE finger, LEFT hand).

]What about people like me, that don't use the strict "proper" fingers?
](My index and middle fingers tend to crowd out the rest of my hands.)

We modify the layout to get as close to the way you type as possible.
I did this recently for a customer who had a nonstandard typing technique.

> Notice that in both cases you use the middle finger in the same row.
> People are able to adapt to this *very* quickly.

]Some people.  I doubt I could; I type well over 100wpm.  That's an
]*average* of ten keystrokes a second, with bursts probably to 20 or so.
]I'd never work with this technique; for one thing, I depend far too

Well, I doubt you'd be able to do 100 wpm with one hand, but that's not
to say you could reach useful speeds on it in a short period of time.
The meaning of the word "useful" depends on what you plan to do with it.
For example, even 12 wpm (1 char/sec) is a useful speed to be typing with
one hand if you can make use of the other hand for something else, like
controlling cursor keys, PgUp, PgDn, selection, etc.  An arrangement of 
this sort would be very well suited to editing, where the number of letters
typed are few (correcting spelling mistakes, inserting a missing word, etc.)
and most of the time is spent scrolling and reading.  This point is that
you no longer have to move one hand between typing and scrolling (be it
a mouse or cursor keys).  100 wpm is not of much use if you are only
going to type a letter or two.  It's akin to driving a Porsche to the
grocery store.  There are better things to do with Porsches... :-)

On the other hand, if you are going to be typing long passages of text,
it's common sense that you would use both hands.  Our software does not
prevent you from doing that.

]Where's the X version?  I couldn't find it.  (This *is* comp.windows.x,
]after all, or at least that's where I'm reading it.)

There is no X version (yet).  Sorry about the cross-post.  Things have
been a little crazy on comp.human-factors (there's even been talk of 
starting a moderated group).  I just contributed to an increasingly
monster-like thread...  :-\

Edgar