Mouse as fast as keyboard? (Reply)

[David Mitchell <mitchell -at- SKY -dot- NET>]

On Tognazzini's studies of mouse vs. keyboard speed,
Geoff Hart (geoff-h -at- mtl -dot- feric -dot- ca) writes...
   However, the latter part of the findings is what seems most
   important to me: If the users feel that something is slow
   or awkward, it is... no matter what the numbers say. User
   perceptions are generally more important to the success of
   a product than hard, numeric measures, and this suggests
   the solution to Melissa's original problem: do a usability
   test, even a simple one and see what the users think.

Yes, the book from which I drew the citation hit on that point again
and again. Interview, observe, design, test, interview, observe,
re-design, re-test, etc.

In his book, Landauer cites some interesting figures on the
importance of multiple user tests.  He even includes cost
justifications, a very rare sight in this industry!

I'm really not on the take for this guy, but here's the info on the
book. To be fair, I found the first part of the book to be very dry
and boring.  However, once he gets in to case studies, it picks up
considerably.  Worth looking at if only for the references.

Landauer, Thomas K.
   The trouble with computers : usefulness, usability, and
productivity.
ISBN 0-262-12186-7



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