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Subject:How to write for both mouse and touch screen From:"Bowes, Rebecca" <Rebecca-Bowes -at- IDEXX -dot- com> To:"techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com> Date:Fri, 20 Dec 2013 19:50:35 +0000
Hi, all: I'm documenting a new application that works with either a mouse OR a touch screen. The interface is pretty much the same for both environments. Can anyone suggest a good way to write for both kinds of input at once? The wording needs to make sense for users whether they are using a mouse or tapping the screen.
I've thought of the following possibilities (but don't really like any of them):
--Using "click/tap" in place of "click." For example, "On the blah window, click/tap OK." But seeing "click/tap" everywhere kind of drives me crazy.
--Adding a short "conventions" section explaining that touch-screen users should just tap the screen wherever it says "click." But does anyone really read those conventions sections?
--Changing "click" to "select" everywhere. But would users be thinking, "But HOW do I select that?"
I'd appreciate any suggestions or guidance you might have.
Rebecca
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