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From: mermell@csse32.DEC.COM (Andy, CSSE DSS, ZK2-1/N71 381-2226)
Newsgroups: comp.windows.x
Subject: Re: Exotic Interface Query
Message-ID: <8704090458.AA11356@decwrl.dec.com>
Date: Wed, 8-Apr-87 23:44:08 EST
Article-I.D.: decwrl.8704090458.AA11356
Posted: Wed Apr  8 23:44:08 1987
Date-Received: Mon, 13-Apr-87 04:11:51 EST
Sender: daemon@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU
Distribution: world
Organization: The ARPA Internet
Lines: 37


> "Anything you can do with the mouse, you should be able to do with the
> keyboard, and vice versa."
>
> Why? Should I be able to enter text with my thermometer? Scan in images
> with my trackball? Tell the time of day with my knob box?
>
> Don't be ridiculous.
> 
>        -- Charles
>

I'll give you 4 reasons.  The first and foremost was stated by the original
requester, I'll rephrase it:  Some people may have handicaps
which allow them to use a keyboard but not a mouse.

#2: 	At a conference (ACM SIGCHI) I watched a demonstration of (some
	other company's) animation software (on some other company's PC).
	The mouse had disappeared (either stolen or taken for
	safekeeping, both likely events at large trade shows).  
	With an apology that "some actions would be clumsier to
	perform" the speaker went on to demonstrate *EVERY* feature in
	the software package, emulating the mouse from the keyboard. 

	This sure makes a better impression than saying "well, 
	I can do X, but not Y, without a real mouse, so let's just pretend  
	you saw that feature" or "demo canceled, go away, don't see my
	product, don't want to buy it."

#3:	(if implemented right) it allows the cursor to be 
	positioned to an exact pixel and then not jiggled 
	when the button is pressed. 

#4:	The workstation is disabled without a functioning mouse.  This is
	frustrating and unnecessary.  (for want of a $50 mouse a $40000
	workstation is useless).  Especially because, with a keyboard,
	an input device (with arrow keys, no less) still exists.