Re:Windows keys throw me off
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Interface Zen
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· Score: 1
I absolutely cannot stand working on a windows 9x machine if the keyboard doesn't have the windows key. Anyone that has gotten into the habit of hitting windows-r to get the run box (the fastest way to a command line) or windows-m to minimize all the windows will realize that in 1 keystroke you can do the work of multitudes of mouse clicks and menu navigations. You windows users out there who use the windows key (I know there have to be a bunch) see how much you miss it when its gone, switch back to a keyboard that doesn't have that key and watch yourself reaching for the blank space on the board.
Re:New kind of keyboard paradigm
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Interface Zen
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· Score: 1
Gosh I can't remember the name of the company that made it, but there is a keyboard that works on exactly this idea. I think the actualy device is a bit bulky myself, and learning chords is not something I would like to do, but it is much faster and easier on the people's body's that use it. I'm pretty sure there are reports of typing speeds up to 300+wpm using this keyboard. You are right that the interface is a good one but as the last reply states the learning curve is very high.
Zenning is a small concern...
on
Interface Zen
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· Score: 1
What you are saying tom is that overriding design criteria of software/hardware should be to account for people that after years of use on the product can do things mechanically without thinking. I would have to say that this is such a small subset of computer users in the world that it doesn't matter when thinking about design. More appropriately you should allow for ease of learning while accomodating in some fashion those who will reach a higher level of enlightenment with the software or hardware. You talk about zenning while using VI and I agree that its entirely possible, yet when I use VI I can barely type a sentence let alone fly through pages of code. I constantly have to worry what mode I'm in and whether what I'm doing is a command or edit. I am just slow as all hell with it. I think that if I were willing to drudge along for 2 or 3 years and only ever use VI for the tasks I am trying to accomplish I would reach the level of speed that you talk so highly about, but is this necessary or useful? I tend to think not because when I edit with my preferred editor (Xemacs) I can totally be one with what I'm doing. I would argue that I have attained a level of competance and speed with Xemacs that would equal or surpass what I what I would be able to do with VI. I think I got a little away from my point but anyways. The ability to fade away into the computer isn't important considering that most users of computers probably don't spend enough time on them to attain a level of competance to allow it. I do, however, think that allowing for this other level of operation is important, though it should be somewhat hidden so that those not initiated don't have to stay into the field of mushrooms and get lost.
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I absolutely cannot stand working on a windows 9x machine if the keyboard doesn't have the windows key. Anyone that has gotten into the habit of hitting windows-r to get the run box (the fastest way to a command line) or windows-m to minimize all the windows will realize that in 1 keystroke you can do the work of multitudes of mouse clicks and menu navigations. You windows users out there who use the windows key (I know there have to be a bunch) see how much you miss it when its gone, switch back to a keyboard that doesn't have that key and watch yourself reaching for the blank space on the board.
Gosh I can't remember the name of the company that made it, but there is a keyboard that works on exactly this idea. I think the actualy device is a bit bulky myself, and learning chords is not something I would like to do, but it is much faster and easier on the people's body's that use it. I'm pretty sure there are reports of typing speeds up to 300+wpm using this keyboard. You are right that the interface is a good one but as the last reply states the learning curve is very high.
What you are saying tom is that overriding design criteria of software/hardware should be to account for people that after years of use on the product can do things mechanically without thinking. I would have to say that this is such a small subset of computer users in the world that it doesn't matter when thinking about design. More appropriately you should allow for ease of learning while accomodating in some fashion those who will reach a higher level of enlightenment with the software or hardware. You talk about zenning while using VI and I agree that its entirely possible, yet when I use VI I can barely type a sentence let alone fly through pages of code. I constantly have to worry what mode I'm in and whether what I'm doing is a command or edit. I am just slow as all hell with it. I think that if I were willing to drudge along for 2 or 3 years and only ever use VI for the tasks I am trying to accomplish I would reach the level of speed that you talk so highly about, but is this necessary or useful? I tend to think not because when I edit with my preferred editor (Xemacs) I can totally be one with what I'm doing. I would argue that I have attained a level of competance and speed with Xemacs that would equal or surpass what I what I would be able to do with VI. I think I got a little away from my point but anyways. The ability to fade away into the computer isn't important considering that most users of computers probably don't spend enough time on them to attain a level of competance to allow it. I do, however, think that allowing for this other level of operation is important, though it should be somewhat hidden so that those not initiated don't have to stay into the field of mushrooms and get lost.