Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!usc!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!decwrl!infopiz!athertn!hemlock!mcgregor
From: mcgregor@hemlock.Atherton.COM (Scott McGregor)
Newsgroups: comp.human-factors
Subject: Re: Touchscreens
Message-ID: <35491@athertn.Atherton.COM>
Date: 14 Jun 91 22:40:14 GMT
References: <1991Jun13.164856.1006@news.arc.nasa.gov> <8435@awdprime.UUCP>
Sender: news@athertn.Atherton.COM
Reply-To: mcgregor@hemlock.Atherton.COM (Scott McGregor)
Organization: Atherton Technology -- Sunnyvale, CA
Lines: 24

In article <1991Jun13.164856.1006@news.arc.nasa.gov>, 

> Did anyone else notice that when Mac users get proficent, they stop using
> the mouse/trackball and use the KEYBOARD!  I think there is a message 
> here...

I think so too.  But I think many people get the wrong message.  Some people
conclude that because proficient users use the keyboard a lot that means that
when designing a new application design it for a keyboard instead of a mouse.
But this misses the message from above, namely that nonproficient users
are attracted by, or prefer the mouse to get started.   Since all novel
products have a learning curve, this argues for trying UI techniques that
may help people get started easily and with low psychological effort, even
if another interface may help them work more speedily once they become
acclimated.  I think the above observation argues for more work on interfaces
that help new users migrate to high proficiency (but harder to learn) UIs.
Mostly this seems to be done with keyboard equivalents indicated in menus,
but I think that there is some interesting work in prescient agents, and
anticipatory software which watch what a user does and help recommend or
guide them into more proficient usage modes.

Scott McGregor
Atherton Technology
mcgregor@atherton.com