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Path: utzoo!linus!security!genrad!decvax!tektronix!ucbcad!notes
From: notes@ucbcad.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.cog-eng
Subject: Re: Re: Two cog-eng questions on display - (nf)
Message-ID: <646@ucbcad.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 3-Nov-83 10:52:18 EST
Article-I.D.: ucbcad.646
Posted: Thu Nov  3 10:52:18 1983
Date-Received: Sun, 6-Nov-83 22:01:15 EST
Sender: notes@ucbcad.UUCP
Organization: UC Berkeley CAD Group
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#R:utcsstat:-135900:ucbesvax:25800002:000:1244
ucbesvax!turner    Nov  3 02:11:00 1983

    Subject: Re: Two cog-eng questions on displayed instructions to the user

    I know some people who type "T" "A" and then a "B" whether you say
    TAB or <TAB>. If you expect to get a lot of naive people "the TAB key"
    may be better.

    Laura Creighton
    utzoo!utcsstat!laura

This is all fine--given standard labels for predefined keys on keyboards.
But what about those wonderful keyboards that use arrows to denote RETURN,
TAB, BACKSPACE, etc.?  Personally, I don't like them, but other people
think that "iconic" keyboards are good human-engineering.

I think this discussion is getting out of hand.  I mean, since when does
someone walk up to a terminal that is completely unattended, with no
external documentation for the system he/she intends to use, and with
no idea of how to use a machine?

I would say, for such applications (and I *can* think of a few), there
should be

	1.  A graphics monitor;
	2.  A touch-sensitive screen panel;
	3.  A sign, saying "touch screen to start"

with any necessary instructions displayed by the software.  If a keyboard
of some kind is needed, this can be put up on the screen (thus giving
control over the text of the labels on the "keys").
---
Michael Turner (ucbvax!ucbesvax.turner)