[WT-support] KC1XX turns down win-test

[Eric Scace K3NA]

Larry --

   Ergonomic studies have shown that an action requiring a mouse click 
(or screen touch) requires hundreds of milliseconds for an "educated 
user" to perform.  "Educated" here means a user familiar with the 
software application.  This assumes the action does not involve multiple 
operations; e.g., opening menus, etc.  Most of this time is occupied in 
moving the hand from the keyboard and returning.  The time increases 
further if the hot spot to be clicked is smaller than 1 cm in either 
dimension; e.g., a line of text.  This time cannot be improved by training.

   An uneducated user takes even longer to trigger an action with a 
mouse click.  The increase is due to time to search for the desired 
action on the screen.  This additional time decreases with user experience.

   In contrast, an educated/experienced user can trigger an action in 
tens of milliseconds with a known keypress -- if only one keypress is 
needed.

   Ergonomic guidelines strongly suggest that any keypress-triggered 
action also can be accomplished by a mouse click.  Studies show that new 
users rely more heavily on mouse clicks, but experienced users will move 
to keypresses IF the correct keypress is hinted on the display.  If the 
keypress is documented only in help files or in a hidden menu, the 
learning time increases significantly and many users will never learn 
the keyboard shortcut.

   In addition to ergonomic data, one can make some observations about 
contesters.  Your message pointed out that many single-op/assisted and 
small multi-op operators will have many spots available to them.  In 
contrast, a big multi-op station will, after the first few hours of the 
contest, generally have only 1-2 spots maximum relevant to a specific 
band's operator... and most of the time the spot window is actually 
empty.  The KC1XX suggestion is very relevant in this case: a 
two-keypress solution to grab the most recent (and probably only) spot 
is fast and appropriate for a big multi-multi.

   In conclusion, I feel the answer is not to choose just a mouse-click 
solution (and no keypress possibility)... or just a keypress-sequence 
solution (and no mouse click possibility).  Both have their uses.

73,
   -- Eric K3NA

on 07 Dec 10 Mon 07:35 Laurent HAAS - F6FVY said the following:
> Hi Bob et al.
>
> Bob Raymond, WA1Z a écrit :
>
>   
>> - We'd like to see a couple additional keyboard commands implemented in 
>> CT to reduce 100% reliance on the mouse.  A mouse doesn't provide the 
>> speed we're looking for.  It's one more peripheral that requires a level 
>> of hand-eye coordination that is unnecessary and handicapping in a 
>> fast-paced contesting environment.  Specifically, the CT "Ctrl-Right 
>> Arrow" and "Alt-Right Arrow" commands that take focus away from the 
>> logging control and present cursors within the Band Map and DX Spot 
>> Announcement windows that are scrollable with Up/Down arrow keys are two 
>> we'd like to see implemented.  
>>  
>> In my opinion, it's not being old-fashioned and not willing to get used 
>> to a mouse.  I'm 32 and don't remember a computer without a mouse.  <g> 
>> This is about speed and accuracy.
>>     
>
> To be very honest, I don't think that using keystrokes will ever be 
> quicker than a mouse double-click on a *specific* spot...
>
> To grab a spot in a list of 10 spots (which is very common), you need 7 
> keystrokes on average (one to enter the "grab" mode, 5 arrows strokes, 
> and one to validate). It is even longer with a crowed list. Really, I 
> bet the mouse trick will be always quicker than the keyboard one.
>
> I understand *your* point at KC1XX, but *we* must also consider the 
> entire population of Win-Test users. It means that, to be fair, we 
> should also consider this "keyboard" implementation for single-ops who 
> are *not* limited to the band they are running. So, it would require to 
> find a way to allow them to grab a spot on *any* band (!), from one of 
> the two radios, and to allow the grabbed called to be entered in the 
> main or the secondary radio, or even to be only stored in the sub-VFO of 
> the TX. You see our point ? ;-)
>
> The *only* advantage I see to use the keyboard for this, is that your 
> hands don't move much. But, on the other way, with the mouse, you can 
> still type with one hand, and "prepare" the next grab by moving the 
> mouse asynchroneously.
>
> IMVHO, using a keyboard to grab a spot is a regression (at least, in the 
> way it is implemented in CT). The mouse is just much more flexible. I 
> don't say we will never implement this. I just say we have to consider 
> it in a *general* manner. We always considered the CT "compatibility" as 
> an inspiration, and not always an endpoint to reach.
>
> Tnx for your other reports which are noted.
>
> 73
>
> Larry - F6FVY
>
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