Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!wuarchive!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!sol.ctr.columbia.edu!cunixf.cc.columbia.edu!cunixb.cc.columbia.edu!mig From: mig@cunixb.cc.columbia.edu (Meir) Newsgroups: comp.human-factors Subject: Re: Track ball on a keyboard? Message-ID: <1991Jun12.202144.12527@cunixf.cc.columbia.edu> Date: 12 Jun 91 20:21:44 GMT References: <2909@sumax.seattleu.edu> <1991Jun12.181324.12617@den.mmc.com> Sender: usenet@cunixf.cc.columbia.edu (The Network News) Reply-To: mig@cunixb.cc.columbia.edu (Meir) Organization: Columbia University Lines: 33 Nntp-Posting-Host: cunixb.cc.columbia.edu In article yee@osf.org (Michael K. Yee) writes: >In article <1991Jun12.181324.12617@den.mmc.com> doehr@magellan.den.mmc.com (Brett B. Doehr) writes: >> They are popular with the >> portable computer industry and also with space applications like >> shuttle and space station. In zero-gravity, a mouse would float >> at the end of its cable, you may accidently click a mouse button >> when grabbing it, etc. > > Yeah, you're right. In zero-gravity, the ball in a mouse would also > float. Why? It seems to me that the entire mouse would float, not the ball by itself. Of course, that would not be a problem if you were using it. The pressure from one's hand would force the mouse against the mouse pad. The real problem is that the astronaut would have to be strapped in, etc. It seems to me that a mouse is inappropriate in space, in an airplane, etc. Keynoards, voice inputs, touch screens, joysticks, and even pens are more appropriate. A usable mouse and trackball COULD probably be made, if one NEEDED them for something. The advantage of voice input, of course, is that with no hands operation, the operator need not be strapped in, or even next to the machine. With voice I/O, one could make a micro-sized computer. The screen and keyboard could be eliminted for many applications. Ever notice that the calculator watches were larger than the other watches...even so, the keys were to small! Eliminate the keyboard and the display, and the entire watch could be as small as the microphone and speaker! BTW, the speaker might be bigger than the display for some devices, such as watches. * * * * * * ====================== Meir Green * * * * * * ====================== (Internet) mig@cunixb.cc.columbia.edu * * * * * * ====================== meir@msb.com mig@asteroids.cs.columbia.edu * * * * * * ====================== (Amateur Radio) N2JPG