Leave the Mouse Outside

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Ollie Saunders
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Leave the Mouse Outside

Post by Ollie Saunders »

I've recently downloaded the trial version of a piece of software called Enso Launcher. I first came across the software when reading from one blog lead on to reading from another (happens very often). I ended up reading Humanized and one post in particular where the creator of Enso talks about the death of the desktop. It's a very interesting video that I recommend. Incidentally there are probably more Google Tech Talks than you thought. Anyway since having Enso I've been trying to use the computer entirely with the keyboard alone. So far the experience has been very interesting. Sometimes the keyboard is much faster, other times it is much slower. Remembering how to get about is not as challenging as I thought it would be and when I decide to start using the mouse again I won't be using it so much and I'll get more work done. So I recommend depriving yourself of the mouse for a while. Perhaps a week.

What stands out about above all else is the things that are not possible with the keyboard alone. Turns out Trillian (a multi-protocol instant messaging client), and one of my longer standing pieces of favourite free software, is completely ignorant of the keyboard for all actions other than the actual typing of the messages. One of my friends started talking to me, I alt tabbed to the window and was able to type back fine but when he posted a link there was no way for me to follow it. I was faced with having to type it out into Firefox. Similarly annoying is how Firefox has an excellent feature for jumping to links (type the ' key followed by the link text) that completely ignores image alt text. If there' is a linked image it would appear there is no way for me to access it. Other than by tabbing through all the links on the page - often a very painful process. Even if this problem was fixed I was still continue to struggle to make a post on DevNet because the "Post Reply" image has no alt text despite it being blindingly obvious what that alt text might be. Although there is tabindex field elements on this posting form which are a lot of help. I never understood how they could be any use and now I do.

Those who are unable or less keen to use a mouse will be choosing which software they use based on this; it's going to be a primarily concern. Software vendors should note that for this particular market they don't have to beat the competition with better features to attract an audience all they've got to do is set logical keyboard shortcuts.
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Zoxive
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Post by Zoxive »

What editor do you use for php? Try using VI/Vim/Gvim, its very difficult for the first week, but really really worth it in the end.
I can't imagine using my mouse to highlight/select/move text anymore.
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Ollie Saunders
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Post by Ollie Saunders »

As the author of this thread I would ask people not to discuss issues of IDEs or editors. They spawn never-endings pit of subjective opinion and speculation that I do not wish to engage in. Thank you.
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Zoxive
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Post by Zoxive »

As a Forum Contributor, I was just posting on regards to not using the mouse as much, and did not mean to spark up another discussion about editors as we have a 30+ page long thread dedicated to that.
When you mentioned software should incorporate keyboard shortcuts, and how vi is run by all shortcuts, thats the first thing I thought of. It really gets your hands off the mouse, and speeds up your productivity.
Last edited by Zoxive on Mon Sep 03, 2007 9:23 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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s.dot
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Post by s.dot »

I'm an avid mouse user.. just use the keyboard for typing and copy/paste. In fact, I hook up usb mouses to my laptop when I'm using it. I should try this. It would be interesting, to say the least.
Set Search Time - A google chrome extension. When you search only results from the past year (or set time period) are displayed. Helps tremendously when using new technologies to avoid outdated results.
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califdon
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Post by califdon »

I rarely use a mouse, but that's because I use a stylus-and-tablet! I know, that's a bit odd, but it greatly reduces the movements of the pointing device, since it's oriented to absolute screen positions, not relative. And when I have just a few keystrokes to do on the keyboard, I keep the stylus in my right hand, in the crook of my thumb and forefinger, while I'm using the keyboard. Works for me.

Thanks for the interesting video link, Ole.
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ReverendDexter
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Post by ReverendDexter »

I also try to use the mouse as little as possible, and didn't really realize how much keyboard shortcuts sped up my work routine until I had to use this CMS at work that didn't have any. Having to hit "cut" and "paste" buttons? Misery.

EDIT: I also wanted to ad that I use Vim for almost all of my text editing, for the reason of its ability to be manipulated entirely by the keyboard (amoungst other unrelated-to-this-thread reasons).
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RobertGonzalez
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Post by RobertGonzalez »

I use the mouse only as I need to. I find it particularly difficult to draw using only a keyboard. Everything else, from OS management to database development to editing to you name it, if I can handle it at the CLI/Keyboard level (and in almost all cases I can) I do.
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califdon
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Post by califdon »

Everah wrote:I use the mouse only as I need to. I find it particularly difficult to draw using only a keyboard.
:lol: LMAO!
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RobertGonzalez
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Post by RobertGonzalez »

califdon wrote:
Everah wrote:I use the mouse only as I need to. I find it particularly difficult to draw using only a keyboard.
:lol: LMAO!
Glad I could be of assistance. :wink:
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Jenk
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Post by Jenk »

Barely touch the mouse any way, if it has a keyboard shortcut, I will use that (providing I remember it..)
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CoderGoblin
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Post by CoderGoblin »

For technical people I think keyboard shortcuts are relatively simple, especially if there is a common "standard" i.e the same key does the same thing for all applications. CTRL-S should save etc. The question when it comes down to it though is non-technical people. How many people read a manual ? People tend to want to just do things, which is easy with a mouse as you can point and click. Sure you have a highlight on a lot of applications menus which show what key it corresponds to but you then potentially have issues with translations. File in english is Datei is german etc. This can complicate things tremendously.
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Kieran Huggins
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Post by Kieran Huggins »

Yo. Another keyboard junkie here. I just bought a < $10 Logitech keyboard to replace an old "multifunction cordless desktop" thing and I have to say it's the best keyboard I've ever owned!

<keyboard-rant>

And what's with (most? all?) keyboard companies re-arranging the insert/home/delete cluster above the arrow keys? DON'T MESS WITH MY KEY POSITIONS!

Also, why are those same jerks re-assigning the default functions of the F-keys? I go to refresh the page sometimes and.... ONLINE SHOPPING???... WTF? Oh, did I forget to hit the F-lock? F-You! DON'T MESS WITH MY F-ING F-KEYS!!!!!

The only non-standard thing on a keyboard I've ever used is a system volume dial, and quite frankly I'm sure a keyboard shortcut could be made for that.

</keyboard-rant>

Whew, that feels better. Off to buy a mouse now!

Cheerio :-)
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Ollie Saunders
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Post by Ollie Saunders »

Completely agree with you there Kieran. When I used to play Total Annihilation I'd like to hit pause, to issue a load of orders, and then un-pause and watch my units carry out the orders. Trouble was whenever I did this at my friend's house, thanks to his special power managements keys, I'd immediately shut down his computer instead of pausing the game. Really really annoying if you are a long way into a mission.

I've already given up on keyboard only live incidentally. Enso Launcher simply doesn't have enough functionality to made keyboard only living viable. Pretty. The style/tablet idea sounds cool though, I've looked into it before perhaps I should again.
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JAB Creations
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Post by JAB Creations »

As far as I'm concerned F-lock is solidly in the top ten most evil things created by humanity, ever. If you want to give different functions for the function keys, create software for it that we can all choose to completely ignore. Besides that is what Key Tweak is for. :wink:

F6 Volume Down
F8 Volume Up
F9 Previous Track
F10 Play/Pause
F12 Next Track

My needs are complete on a standard keyboard (red LED Saitek hehe).

I've made a lot of effort to ensure keyboard only navigation on the next version of my site is possible. I've even added a script called Power Keys as this would let you jump from different parts of the page much quicker and easier if you're not using a mouse or are stuck with a laptop keyboard.

I use Trillian (not as much as I once did but occasionally use it still) and the keyboard is only useful for typing which I agree sucks.

However as far as programs and platforms go Windows from what I can tell is the only truly keyboard-only accessible OS (I run Linux on VM and have a (H-)acontosh. All browsers included on Gecko on Windows supports tabbing through all tabable elements on a page (not capable on Linux or OS X)...Opera and IE (IE only on PC) are also capable though do not support :focus pseudo-element. Opera 9.5 finally adds :focus pseudo-element support on all elements (but it took them how long?!) Webkit/KHTML and many other browsers if they support keyboard tabbing only do so on form child elements...weak.

And don't forget everyone's favorite almost-a-web-cam-site-but-not-quite myspace...even most sites with code that looks like it's been devoured by Frontpage five times over still tab to the SEND button from the textarea directly above it!

Anyway I couldn't imagine just using the keyboard while working, that sort of situation only seems viable for Commander Keen.
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