Module 4

Select the Proper Kinds

of Windows
• Windows - Characteristics,
• Components of window,
• Window presentation
• styles,
• Types of window,
• Window management,
• Organizing window functions,
• Window operations,
• Web systems,
• Characteristics of device based controls.
Window Characteristics
• A name or title, allowing it to be identified.
• A size in height and width
• A state, accessible or active, or not accessible.
• Visibility—the portion that can be seen.
• A location, relative to the display boundary.
• Presentation, that is, its arrangement in relation to other windows. It may
be tiled, overlapping, or cascading.
• Management capabilities, methods for manipulation of the window on the
screen.
• Its highlight, that is, the part that is selected.
• The function, task, or application to which it is dedicated.
The Attraction of Windows
• Presentation of Different Levels of Information
• Presentation of Multiple Kinds of Information
• Sequential Presentation of Levels or Kinds of Information
• Access to Different Sources of Information
• Combining Multiple Sources of Information
• Performing More Than One Task
• Reminding
• Monitoring
• Multiple Representations of the Same Task
Constraints in Window System Design
• Historical Considerations
• Hardware Limitations
• Human Limitations
• Other Limitations
Other possible window problems include the necessity for window
borders to consume valuable screen space, and that small windows
providing access to large amounts of information can lead to
excessive, bothersome scrolling.
Components of a Window
Components of a Window
• Frame
• Title Bar
• Title Bar Icon
• Window Sizing Buttons
• What’s This? Button
• Menu Bar
• Status Bar
• Scroll Bars
• Split Box
• Toolbar
• Command Area
• Size Grip
• Work Area
Window Presentation Styles
• The presentation style of a window refers to its spatial relationship to
other windows.
• There are two basic styles, commonly called tiled or overlapping.
Tiled Windows
Advantages
• The system usually allocates and positions windows for the user,
eliminating the necessity to make positioning decisions.
• Open windows are always visible, eliminating the possibility of them being
lost and forgotten.
• Every window is always completely visible, eliminating the possibility of
information being hidden.
• They are perceived as less complex than overlapping windows, possibly
because there are fewer management operations or they seem less
“magical.”
• They are easier, according to studies, for novice or inexperienced people to
learn and use.
• They yield better user performance for tasks where the data requires little
window manipulation to complete the task.
Disadvantages
• Only a limited number can be displayed in the screen area available.
• As windows are opened or closed, existing windows change in size. This can
be annoying.
• As windows change in size or position, the movement can be disconcerting.
• As the number of displayed windows increases, each window can get very
tiny.
• The changes in sizes and locations made by the system are difficult to
predict.
• The configuration of windows provided by the system may not meet the
user’s needs.
Overlapping Windows
Advantages
• Visually, their look is three-dimensional, resembling the desktop that is
familiar to the user.
• Greater control allows the user to organize the windows to meet his or her
needs.
• Windows can maintain larger sizes.
• Windows can maintain consistent sizes.
• Windows can maintain consistent positions.
• Screen space conservation is not a problem, because windows can be
placed on top of one another.
• There is less pressure to close or delete windows no longer needed.
Disadvantages
• They are operationally much more complex than tiled windows. More
control functions require greater user attention and manipulation.
• Information in windows can be obscured behind other windows.
• Windows themselves can be lost behind other windows and be
presumed not to exist.
• That overlapping windows represent a three-dimensional space is not
always realized by the user.
Cascading Windows
• A special type of overlapping window has the windows automatically
arranged in a regular progression. Each window is slightly offset from
others, as illustrated in Figure 5.6.
Advantages
• No window is ever completely hidden.
• Bringing any window to the front is easier.
• It provides simplicity in visual presentation
and cleanness.
Picking a Presentation Style
■ Use tiled windows for:
— Single-task activities.
— Data that needs to be seen simultaneously.
— Tasks requiring little window manipulation.
— Novice or inexperienced users.
■ Use overlapping windows for:
— Switching between tasks.
— Tasks necessitating a greater amount of window manipulation.
— Expert or experienced users.
— Unpredictable display contents.
Types of Windows
Primary Window
■ Proper usage:
— Should represent an independent function or application.
— Use to present constantly used window components and controls.
• Menu bar items that are:
— Used frequently.
— Used by most, or all, primary or secondary windows.
• Controls used by dependent windows.
— Use for presenting information that is continually updated.
• For example, date and time.
— Use for providing context for dependent windows to be created.
— Do not:
• Divide an independent function into two or more primary windows.
• Present unrelated functions in one primary window.
Secondary Windows
■ Proper usage:
— For performing subordinate, supplemental, or ancillary actions that are:
• Extended or more complex in nature.
• Related to objects in the primary window.
— For presenting frequently or occasionally used window components.
■ Important guidelines:
— Should typically not appear as an entry on the taskbar.
— A secondary window should not be larger than 263 dialog units x 263
dialog units.
Modal and Modeless
■ Modal:
— Use when interaction with any other window must not be permitted.
— Use for:
• Presenting information.
— For example, messages (sometimes called a message box).
• Receiving user input.
— For example, data or information (sometimes called a prompt box).
• Asking questions.
— For example, data, information, or directions (sometimes called a question box).
— Use carefully because it constrains what the user can do.
■ Modeless:
— Use when interaction with other windows must be permitted.
— Use when interaction with other windows must be repeated.
Cascading and Unfolding

■ Cascading:
— Purpose:
• To provide advanced options at a lower level in a complex dialog.
— Guidelines:
• Provide a command button leading to the next dialog box with a “To a Window”
indicator, an ellipsis (. . . ).
• Present the additional dialog box in cascaded form.
• Provide no more than two cascades in a given path.
• Do not cover previous critical information.
— Title Bar.
— Relevant displayed information.
• If independent, close the secondary window from which it was opened.
■ Unfolding:
— Purpose:
• To provide advanced options at the same level in a complex dialog.
— Guidelines:
• Provide a command button with an expanding dialog symbol (>>).
• Expand to right or downward.
Dialog Boxes

■ Use for presenting brief messages.

■ Use for requesting specific, transient actions.
■ Use for performing actions that:
— Take a short time to complete.
— Are not frequently changed.
■ Command buttons to include:
— OK.
— Cancel.
— Others as necessary.
Property Sheets and Property Inspectors
• The properties of an object in an interface can be displayed in a
variety of ways. For example, the image and name of an icon on the
desktop reflect specific properties of that object, as do other interface
components such as toolbars, status bars, and even scroll bars.
• Secondary windows provide two other techniques for displaying
properties, property sheets and property inspectors
Property Sheets
■ Use for presenting the complete set of properties for an object.
■ Categorize and group within property pages, as necessary.
— Use tabbed property pages for grouping peer-related property sets.
— The recommended sizes for property sheets are:
• 252 DLUs wide x 218 DLUs high
• 227 DLUs wide x 215 DLUs high
• 212 DLUs wide x 188 DLUs high
— Command buttons to include:
• OK.
• Cancel.
• Apply.
• Reset.
• Others as necessary.
— For single property sheets, place the commands on the sheet.
— For tabbed property pages, place the commands outside the tabbed pages.
Property Inspectors

■ Use for displaying only the most common or frequently accessed

object properties.
■ Make changes dynamically.
Message Boxes
■ Use for displaying a message about a particular situation or condition.
■ Command buttons to include:
— OK.
— Cancel.
— Help.
— Yes and No.
— Stop.
— Buttons to correct the action that caused the message box to be
displayed.
■ Enable the title bar close box only if the message includes a cancel button.
■ Designate the most frequent or least destructive option as the default
command
button.
Palette Windows
■ Use to present a set of controls.
■ Design as resizable.
— Alternately, design them as fixed in size.
Pop-up Windows

■ Use pop-up windows to display:

— Additional information when an abbreviated form of the information
is the main
presentation.
— Textual labels for graphical controls.
— Context-sensitive Help information.
Window Management
Microsoft Windows also provides several window management
schemes:
a single document interface,
a multiple-document interface,
workbooks, and
projects.
Single-Document Interface

■ Description:
— A single primary window with a set of secondary windows.
■ Proper usage:
— Where object and window have a simple, one-to-one relationship.
— Where the object’s primary presentation or use is as a single unit.
— To support alternate views with a control that allows the view to be changed.
— To support simultaneous views by splitting the window into panes.
■ Advantages:
— Most common usage.
— Window manipulation is easier and less confusing.
— Data-centered approach.
■ Disadvantage:
— Information is displayed or edited in separate windows.
Multiple-Document Interface
■ Description:
— A technique for managing a set of windows where documents are opened into windows.
— Contains:
• A single primary window, called the parent.
• A set of related document or child windows, each also essentially a primary window.
— Each child window is constrained to appear only within the parent window.
— The child windows share the parent window’s operational elements.
— The parent window’s elements can be dynamically changed to reflect the requirements of the
active child window.
■ Proper usage:
— To present multiple occurrences of an object.
— To compare data within two or more windows.
— To present multiple parts of an application.
— Best suited for viewing homogeneous object types.
— To clearly segregate the objects and their windows used in a task.
Advantages:
— The child windows share the parent window’s interface components (menus, toolbars,
and status bars), making it a very space-efficient interface.
— Useful for managing a set of objects.
— Provides a grouping and focus for a set of activities within the larger environment of the
desktop.
■ Disadvantages:
— Reinforces an application as the primary focus.
— Containment for secondary windows within child windows does not exist, obscuring
window relationships and possibly creating confusion.
— Because the parent window does not actually contain objects, context cannot always be
maintained on closing and opening.
— The relationship between files and their windows is abstract, making an MDI application
more challenging for beginning users to learn.
— Confining child windows to the parent window can be inconvenient or inappropriate for
some tasks.
— The nested nature of child windows may make it difficult for the user to distinguish a
child window in a parent window
Workbooks
■ Description:
— A window or task management technique that consists of a set of views organized like a
tabbed notebook.
— It is based upon the metaphor of a book or notebook.
— Views of objects are presented as sections within the workbook’s primary windows.
— Each section represents a view of data.
— Tabs can be included and used to navigate between sections.
— Otherwise, its characteristics and behavior are similar to those of the multipledocument
interface with all child windows maximized.
■ Proper usage:
— To manage a set of views of an object.
— To optimize quick navigation of multiple views.
— For content where the order of the sections is significant.
Advantages:
— Provides a grouping and focus for a set of activities within the larger
environment of the desktop.
— Conserves screen real estate.
— Provides the greater simplicity of the single-document window interface.
— Provides greater simplicity by eliminating child window management.
— Preserves some management capabilities of the multiple-document
interface.
■ Disadvantage:
— Cannot present simultaneous views.
Projects
■ Description:
— A technique that consists of a container: a project window holding a set of objects.
— The objects being held within the project window can be opened in primary windows
that are peers with the project window.
— Visual containment of the peer windows within the project window is not necessary.
— Each opened peer window must possess its own menu bar and other interface
elements.
— Each opened peer window can have its own entry on the task bar.
— When a project window is closed, all the peer windows of objects also close.
— When the project window is opened, the peer windows of the contained objects are
restored to their former positions.
— Peer windows of a project may be restored without the project window itself being
restored.
■ Proper usage:
— To manage a set of objects that do not necessarily need to be contained.
— When child windows are not to be constrained.
Advantages:
— Provides a grouping and focus for a set of activities within the larger
environment of the desktop.
— Preserves some management capabilities of the multiple document
interface.
— Provides the greatest flexibility in the placement and arrangement of
windows.
■ Disadvantage:
— Increased complexity due to difficulty in differentiating peer primary
windows of the project from windows of other applications.
Organizing Window Functions
Organize windows to support user tasks.
■ Support the most common tasks in the most efficient sequence of steps.
■ Use primary windows to:
— Begin an interaction and provide a top-level context for dependent windows.
— Perform a major interaction.
■ Use secondary windows to:
— Extend the interaction.
— Obtain or display supplemental information related to the primary window.
■ Use dialog boxes for:
— Infrequently used or needed information.
— “Nice-to-know” information.
Mayhew (1992) suggests that poor functional organization usually
occurs because of one of, or a combination of, these factors:
• Emphasis on technical ease of implementation rather than proper
analysis of user tasks.
• Focus on applications, features, functions, or data types instead of
tasks.
• Organization of the design team into applications, with little cross-
team communication.
• Blindly mimicking the manual world and carrying over manual
inefficiencies to the computer system.
 Window Operation
1. Number of Windows
■ Minimize the number of windows needed to accomplish an
objective.

2. Active Window
■ A window should be made active with as few steps as possible.
■ Visually differentiate the active window from other windows.
3. General Guidelines

■ Design easy to use and learn windowing operations.

— Direct manipulation seems to be a faster and more intuitive interaction
style than indirect manipulation for many windowing operations.
■ Minimize the number of window operations necessary to achieve a desired
effect.
■ Make navigating between windows particularly easy and efficient to do.
■ Make the setting up of windows particularly easy to remember.
■ In overlapping systems, provide powerful commands for arranging
windows on the screen in user-tailorable configurations.
4. Opening a Window
■ Provide an iconic representation or textual list of available windows.
— If opening with an expansion of an icon, animate the icon expansion.
■ When opening a window:
— Position the opening window in the most forward plane of the screen.
— Adapt the window to the size and shape of the monitor on which it will be
presented.
— Designate it as the active window.
— Set it off against a neutral background.
— Ensure that its title bar is visible.
■ When a primary window is opened or restored, position it on top.
— Restore all secondary windows to the states that existed when the
primary window was closed.
When a dependent secondary window is opened, position it on top of its
associated primary window.
— Position a secondary window with peer windows on top of its peers.
— Present layered or cascaded windows with any related peer secondary
windows.
■ When a dependent secondary window is activated, its primary window
and related peer windows should also be positioned at the top.
■ If more than one object is selected and opened, display each object in a
separate window. Designate the last window selected as the active
window.
5. Sizing Windows
Provide large-enough windows to:
— Present all relevant and expected information for the task.
— Avoid hiding important information.
— Avoid crowding or visual confusion.
— Minimize the need for scrolling.
• But use less than the full size of the entire screen.
■ If a window is too large, determine:
— Is all the information needed?
— Is all the information related?
■ Otherwise, make the window as small as possible.
— Optimum window sizes:
For text, about 12 lines.
• For alphanumeric information, about seven lines.
Larger windows seem to have these advantages:
They permit displaying of more information.
They facilitate learning: Data relationships and groupings are more
obvious.
Less window manipulation requirements exist.
Breadth is preferred to depth (based on menu research).
More efficient data validation and data correction can be performed.
Disadvantages include:
Longer pointer movements are required.
Windows are more crowded.
More visual scanning is required.
Other windows more easily obscure parts of the window.
It is not as easy to hide inappropriate data.
6. Window Placement
 Considerations:
— In placing a window on the display, consider:
• The use of the window.
• The overall display dimensions.
• The reason for the window’s appearance.
■ General:
— Position the window so it is entirely visible.
— If the window is being restored, place the window where it last appeared.
— If the window is new, and a location has not yet been established, place it:
• At the point of the viewer’s attention, usually the location of the pointer or cursor.
• In a position convenient to navigate to.
• So that it is not obscuring important or related underlying window information.
— For multiple windows, give each additional window its own unique and discernible location.
• A cascading presentation is recommended.
In a multiple-monitor configuration, display the secondary window on the
same monitor as its primary window.
— If none of the above location considerations apply, then:
• Horizontally center a secondary window within its primary window just
below the title bar, menu bar, and any docked toolbars.
— If the user then moves the window, display it at this new location the next
time the user opens the window.
• Adjust it as necessary to the current display configuration.
— Do not let the user move a window to a position where it cannot be easily
repositioned.
■ Dialog boxes:
— If the dialog box relates to the entire system, center it on screen.
— Keep key information on the underlying screen visible.
— If one dialog box calls another, make the new one movable whenever
possible.
7. Window Separation

■ Crisply, clearly, and pleasingly demarcate a window from the

background of the screen on which it appears.
— Provide a surrounding solid line border for the window.
— Provide a window background that sets the window off well against
the overall screen background.
— Consider incorporating a drop shadow beneath the window.
8. Moving a Window

■ Permit the user to change the position of all windows.

■ Change the pointer shape to indicate that the move selection is
successful.
■ Move the entire window as the pointer moves.
— If it is impossible to move the entire window, move the window
outline while leaving the window displayed in its original position.
■ Permit the moving of a window without its being active.
9. Resizing a Window
■ Permit the user to change the size of primary windows.
— Unless the information displayed in the window is fixed or cannot be scaled to provide more information.
■ Change the pointer shape to indicate that the resizing selection is successful.
■ The simplest operation is to anchor the upper-left corner and resize from the lower right corner.
— Also permit resizing from any point on the window.
■ Show the changing window as the pointer moves.
— If it is impossible to show the entire window being resized, show the window’s outline while leaving the
window displayed in its original position.
■ When window size changes and content remains the same:
— Change image size proportionally as window size changes.
■ If resizing creates a window or image too small for easy use, do one of the following:
— Clip (truncate) information arranged in some logical structure or layout when minimum size is attained, or
— When no layout considerations exist, format (restructure) information as size is reduced, or
— Remove less useful information (if it can be determined), or
— When minimum size is attained, replace information with a message that indicates that the minimum size
has been reached and that the window must be enlarged to continue working.
■ Permit resizing a window without its being active.
10 .Window Shuffling

■ Window shuffling must be easy to accomplish.

11. Keyboard Control/Mouse less Operation

■ Window actions should be capable of being performed through the
keyboard as well as with a mouse.
■ Keyboard alternatives should be designated through use of
mnemonic codes as much as possible.
■ Keyboard designations should be capable of being modified by the
user.
12.Closing a Window

■ Close a window when:

— The user requests that it be closed.
— The user performs the action required in the window.
— The window has no further relevance.
■ If a primary window is closed, also close all of its secondary windows.
■ When a window is closed, save its current state, including size and
position, for use
when the window is opened again.
Web Systems

• Web systems have limited windowing capabilities. The frame concept

does provide window-like ability, and JavaScript does provide pop-up
windows.
Frames

■ Description:
— Multiple Web screen panes that permit the displaying of multiple
documents on a page.
— These documents can be independently viewed, scrolled, and updated.
— The documents are presented in a tiled format.
■ Proper usage:
— For content expected to change frequently.
— To allow users to change partial screen content.
— To permit users to compare multiple pieces of information.
Guidelines:
— Use only a few frames (three or less) at a given time.
— Choose sizes based upon the type of information to be presented.
— Never force viewers to resize frames to see information.
— Never use more than one scrolling region on a page.
Frames advantages mostly cluster around their ability to reduce the
user’s content comprehension mental load. These include the
following:
• They decrease the user’s need to jump back and forth between
screens, thereby reducing navigation-related cognitive overhead.
• They increase the user’s opportunity to request, view, and compare
multiple sources of information.
• They allow content pages to be developed independently of
navigation pages.
The disadvantages mostly cluster around navigational shortcomings,
including:
• They suffer some of the shortcomings of tiled screens:
• Only a limited number can be displayed in the available screen area.
Pop-Up Windows

■ Be extremely cautious in the use of pop-up windows.

• JavaScript pop-up windows began appearing on the Web in 1996.
Their use is multiplying and, in the view of almost all Web users,
polluting screens.
• Because they are most frequently used in advertising.
• So, if a pop-up window is used, it may never be completely seen or
read by the user. Use them with extreme caution.
 Select the Proper
Device-Based Controls
Characteristics of Device-Based Controls
Several specific tasks are performed using graphical systems.
• To point at an object on the screen.
• To select the object or identify it as the focus of attention.
• To drag an object across the screen.
• To draw something free form on the screen.
• To track or follow a moving object.
• To orient or position an object.
• To enter or manipulate data or information.
Trackball
■ Description:
— A spherical object (ball) that rotates freely in all directions in its
socket.
— Direction and speed is tracked and translated into cursor movement.
■ Advantages:
— Direct relationship between hand and pointer movement in terms of
direction and speed.
— Does not obscure vision of screen.
— Does not require additional desk space (if mounted on keyboard).
■ Disadvantages:
— Movement is indirect, in a plane different from the screen.
— No direct relationship exists between hand and pointer movement
in terms of distance.
— Requires a degree of eye-hand coordination.
— Requires hand to be removed from keyboard keys.
— Requires different hand movements.
— Requires hand to be removed from keyboard (if not mounted on
keyboard).
— Requires additional desk space (if not mounted on keyboard).
— May be difficult to control.
— May be fatiguing to use over extended time.
Joystick
■ Description:
— A stick or bat-shaped device anchored at the bottom.
— Variable in size, smaller ones being operated by fingers, larger ones
requiring the whole hand.
— Variable in cursor direction movement method, force joysticks
respond to pressure, movable ones respond to movement.
— Variable in degree of movement allowed, from horizontal-vertical
only to continuous.
■ Advantages:
— Direct relationship between hand and pointer movement in terms of
direction.
— Does not obscure vision of screen.
— Does not require additional desk space (if mounted on keyboard).
■ Disadvantages:
— Movement indirect, in plane different from screen.
— Indirect relationship between hand and pointer in terms of speed
and distance.
— Requires a degree of eye-hand coordination.
— Requires hand to be removed from keyboard keys.
— Requires different hand movements to use.
— Requires hand to be removed from keyboard (if not mounted on
keyboard).
— Requires additional desk space (if not mounted on keyboard).
— May be fatiguing to use over extended time.
— May be slow and inaccurate.
Graphic Tablet
■ Description:
— Pressure-, heat-, light-, or light-blockage-sensitive horizontal
surfaces that lie on the desktop or keyboard.
— May be operated with fingers, light pen, or objects like a stylus or
pencil.
— Pointer imitates movements on tablet.
■ Advantages:
— Direct relationship between touch movements and pointer
movements in terms of direction, distance, and speed.
— More comfortable horizontal operating plane.
— Does not obscure vision of screen.
■ Disadvantages:
— Movement is indirect, in a plane different from screen.
— Requires hand to be removed from keyboard.
— Requires hand to be removed from keyboard keys.
— Requires different hand movements to use.
— Requires additional desk space.
— Finger may be too large for accuracy with small objects
Touch Screen
■ Description:
— A special surface on the screen sensitive to finger or stylus touch.
Advantages:
— Direct relationship between hand and pointer location in terms of
direction, distance, and speed.
— Movement is direct, in the same plane as screen.
— Requires no additional desk space.
— Stands up well in high-use environments.
■ Disadvantages:
— Finger may obscure part of screen.
— Finger may be too large for accuracy with small objects.
— Requires moving the hand far from the keyboard to use.
— Very fatiguing to use for extended period of time.
— May soil or damage the screen.
■ Design Guidelines:
— Screen objects should be at least 3/4″ × 3/4″ in size.
— Object separation should be at least 1/8″.
— Provide visual feedback in response to activation. Auditory feedback
may also be appropriate.
— When the consequences are destructive, require confirmation after
selection to eliminate inadvertent selection.
— Provide an instructional invitation to begin using.
Light Pen

■ Description:
— A special surface on a screen sensitive to the touch of a special stylus or pen.
■ Advantages:
— Direct relationship between hand and pointer movement in terms of direction, distance, and speed.
— Movement is direct, in the same plane as screen.
— Requires minimal additional desk space.
— Stands up well in high-use environments.
— More accurate than finger touching.
■ Disadvantages:
— Hand may obscure part of screen.
— Requires picking it up to use.
— Requires moving the hand far from the keyboard to use.
— Very fatiguing to use for extended period of time.
Voice

■ Description:
— Automatic speech recognition by the computer.
■ Advantages:
— Simple and direct.
— Useful for people who cannot use a keyboard.
— Useful when the user’s hands are occupied.
■ Disadvantages:
— High error rates due to difficulties in:
• Recognizing boundaries between spoken words.
• Blurred word boundaries due to normal speech patterns.
— Slower throughput than with typing.
— Difficult to use in noisy environments.
— Impractical to use in quiet environments.
Mouse
■ Description:
— A rectangular or dome-shaped, movable, desktop control containing from one to three buttons used to
manipulate objects and information on the screen.
— Movement of screen pointer mimics the mouse movement.
■ Advantages:
— Direct relationship between hand and pointer movement in terms of direction, distance, and speed.
— Permits a comfortable hand resting position
— Selection mechanisms are included on mouse.
— Does not obscure vision of the screen.
■ Disadvantages:
— Movement is indirect, in a plane different from screen.
— Requires hand to be removed from keyboard.
— Requires additional desk space.
— May require long movement distances.
— Requires a degree of eye-hand coordination.
Mouse Usage Guidelines

■ Provide a “hot zone” around small or thin objects that might require
extremely fine mouse positioning.
■ Never use double-clicks or double-drags as the only means of
carrying out essential operations.
■ Do not use mouse plus keystroke combinations.
■ Do not require a person to point at a moving target.
Keyboard
■ Description:
— Standard typewriter keyboard and cursor movement keys.
■ Advantages:
— Familiar.
— Accurate.
— Does not take up additional desk space.
— Very useful for:
• Entering text and alphanumeric data.
• Inserting in text and alphanumeric data.
• Keyed shortcuts—accelerators.
• Keyboard mnemonics—equivalents.
— Advantageous for:
• Performing actions when less than three mouse buttons exist.
• Use with very large screens.
• Touch typists.
■ Disadvantages:
— Slow for non-touch-typists.
— Slower than other devices in pointing.
— Requires discrete actions to operate.
— No direct relationship between finger or hand movement on the keys
and cursor
movement on screen in terms of speed and distance.
Keyboard Guidelines
■ Provide keyboard accelerators.
— Assign single keys for frequently performed, small-scale tasks.
— Use standard platform accelerators.
— Assign Shift-key combinations for actions that extend or are
complementary to the actions of the key or key combination used
without the Shift-key.
— Assign Ctrl-key combinations for:
• Infrequent actions.
• Tasks that represent larger-scale versions of the task assigned to the
unmodified key.
■ Provide keyboard equivalents.
— Use standard platform equivalents.
— Use the first letter of the item description.
— If first letter conflicts exist, use:
• Another distinctive consonant in the item description.
• A vowel in the item description.
■ Provide window navigation through use of keyboard keys.