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Subject:Re: Keyboard vs. mouse From:Michael Keith Anderson <mka -at- IX -dot- NETCOM -dot- COM> Date:Tue, 31 Oct 1995 23:24:39 -0600
Melissa and Tech Writers:
I used to work as an assistant project manager at a bank. One of my =
projects was a needs assessment model for an automation project. We =
discovered the keyboard is faster for some people, and the mouse is =
faster for others.
Getting the job done and training people to do the job are your two most =
important factors. The keyboard is great for people who do a lot of data =
entry. In our case, we were looking at tellers and proof operators. =
Keyboard shortcuts were the only way to go for these people.
The mouse is terrific for people who deal with objects more than data. =
The bank's mouse-people included administrative assistants and employees =
who scanned loan applications. Also, it's definitely easier to train =
somebody on the mouse. People generally respond better to new =
applications if they use a mouse. On the average, experienced users =
(like me) pick up on keyboard commands after using the mouse to learn =
the application.
From my experience, I would suggest looking at the job to be done first; =
that's the most important issue. Then look at how and who you want to =
train.
Keith Anderson
mka -at- ix -dot- netcom -dot- com
mkanderson -at- ualr -dot- edu
----------
From: Melissa Hunter-Kilmer[SMTP:mhunterk -at- BNA -dot- COM]
Sent: Tuesday, October 31, 1995 12:45 PM
To: Multiple recipients of list TECHWR-L
Subject: Keyboard vs. mouse
Techwhirlers,
We are planning our documents for a new in-house application. We =
suspect
that using the keyboard is faster than using a mouse. If it is, we =
want
to slant the doc and training so that users become accustomed to =
keyboard
shortcuts.
However, we don't have any hard evidence of the difference in speed. =
Does
anybody know of a study or article that sheds light on which is =
faster?
Thanks.
Rodentially yours,
Melissa Hunter-Kilmer
mhunterk -at- bna -dot- com
(insert standard disclaimer here)
