[bookport] Re: Experiences on Note Taking with the BP
- From: "LARRY SKUTCHAN" <lskutchan@xxxxxxx>
- To: <bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Fri, 25 Mar 2005 09:45:05 -0500
Actually, there are some hardware limitations that prevent us from doing
this. That concept is exactly what we started with.
One thing that can help you remember the mark command is that it uses
the same keys as setting a mark with the keyboard in its normal
orientation.
>>> ptorpey@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Friday, March 25, 2005 9:35:31 AM >>>
There were a number of positive responses from list members last week
to
the note below. I know CSUN was last week, so maybe the APH
developers
missed this thread. The basic concept is to follow up on the braille
chording commands which APH started with the space + F (in braille) to
enter a find string, and have newly added commands based on similar
chorded mnemonics. As some already pointed out this is both easier to
remember and more in line with other note takers. What is the
possibility of making this a more user-friendly system before the next
release becomes official?
-- Pete
> -----Original Message-----
> From: ptorpey [mailto:ptorpey@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]
> Sent: Friday, March 18, 2005 9:08 AM
> To: 'bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx'
> Subject: Experiences on Note Taking with the BP
>
> Let me start by saying that I think the note taker function being
beta
> tested now is a great enhancement to the Bookport's functionality
and
> will be very useful.
>
> However, I have a few observations from working with the note taker
> and a few suggestions on making it more user-friendly and easier to
> use.
>
> First, as many have pointed out on this list, the Bookport is
> primarily a reading device. Thus, the note taking function will
> probably be used intermittently or on rare occasions by many users.
> This means that users may not be as conversant with the note taking
> functions/keystrokes as they would with many of the other more
> routinely used Bookport functions/keystrokes. Therefore, in lieu of
a
> "key learn" or "key speak" mode which can quickly refresh the user's
> memory of what keystrokes perform what function, it is particularly
> important that the functions/keystrokes be intuitive and easy to
> remember.
>
> In particular, before the beta is officially released, I think it is
> worthwhile considering modifying some of the keystroke combinations
> currently used in the Bookport's note taker mode. Most of the
> keyboard and functions for the note taker are well laid out. Some
> keystrokes I find particularly difficult to remember are things like
> "mark", "paste", "go to mark", etc. To me these keystrokes do not
> seem to be intuitive and, using the note taker only occasionally, I
am
> prone to forget these.
>
> Since we do have a braille keyboard in the note taker, here is my
> suggestion for a more intuitive and user-friendly approach to
> assigning functions. As with the "find" command, which uses shift +
f
> (dots 1-2-4), I think it would be a good idea to assign shifted
> character keystrokes to other functions. Proper assignment of the
> shifted character would provide the user with a simple mnemonic by
> which to remember the function without having to move to the manual
> and search for the desired function.
>
> Here are some examples:
>
> 1. Shift + P = paste contents of clipboard
> (alternately, shift + V to paste as is common in Windows)
> Note: the note taker does use shift + C to copy to clipboard,
so
> this is a simple extension
> 2. Shift + G = go to mark
> 3. Shift + M = mark text at this point
> 4. Shift + d = delete characters between the mark and the cursor
> 5. Shift + R = read from current position
> 6. shift + t = go to top of note document
> 7. shift + e = go to end of note document
> 8. shift + o = open a new note
> 9. shift + n = if in a document, go to last note opened, if
> pointing to a note open current note for edit.
>
> Well, you get the idea. With so many functions and keystrokes to
> remember in a mode which may not be used as frequently as other
modes,
> a mnemonic based system would be very helpful.
>
> What do others think?
>
>
> -- Pete
>
Other related posts:
