[bookport] Re: Experiences on Note Taking with the BP
- From: Robert Carter <r-carter@xxxxxxx>
- To: bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Fri, 18 Mar 2005 12:36:07 -0600
Hi,
I think the suggestions listed below are worthy of careful consideration
for the reasons mentioned.
Robert Carter
At 08:07 AM 3/18/2005, you wrote:
>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
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