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Re: Better keyboard-driven navigation, any?

by Gavin (Archbishop)
on Jul 22, 2008 at 16:24 UTC ( [id://699351]=note: print w/replies, xml ) Need Help??


in reply to Better keyboard-driven navigation, any?

I too do not like using a mouse and find it very tiring over long periods especially when surfing or using Photoshop or Dreamweaver.

I now use a Trackball I have both Kensington and Logitech.

Once I got used to them and it did take a while I find they are much easier to use for long periods.

The beauty of them for me is that I do not have to move my arm I can control non keyboard functions with two fingers and my thumb.

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Re^2: Better keyboard-driven navigation, any?
by Popcorn Dave (Abbot) on Jul 22, 2008 at 19:53 UTC
    I've been using a trackball for many years now and the only drawback that I find is that the muscles in my upper arm can get a bit sore if I'm using the mouse for long periods of time ( read: gaming ). That would be my only concern for blazar's situation.


    Revolution. Today, 3 O'Clock. Meet behind the monkey bars.

    I would love to change the world, but they won't give me the source code

      [...] if I'm using the mouse for long periods of time ( read: gaming ).

      I personally believe I'll leave that kinda problems to some monk who's far more expert than me! I'm at most playing some arcade every now and again. (Read: some incarnation of Tetris, 99% of the time. Although to be completely fair I'm having some frenzy these days for a tiny little game called Erix which used to come preinstalled in some Sony Ericsson mobile phones and of which I found an "improved" Java version: it can be considered as loosely based on the concept of the classic Snake game.)

      That would be my only concern for blazar's situation.

      Well, not only: as I explained in my last post on this subject, even a "better" tracking mechanism, for some acceptation of "better," would be by far suboptimal. Best of all would be to hold the "device" i.e. namely the Eee with both my hands, and interact with it "only" through the keyboard. Even with a trackball by the side of my bed, it would be annoying to have to reach it with a hand, and which one, given that I continuously change position? Well, sort of...

      --
      If you can't understand the incipit, then please check the IPB Campaign.
Re^2: Better keyboard-driven navigation, any?
by blazar (Canon) on Jul 22, 2008 at 22:28 UTC
    I now use a Trackball I have both Kensington and Logitech.

    I personally believe that they're not very popular in Italy: I've seen them in shops but never met or heard anyone actually using or having used one. It was much more a matter of tracking mechansim vs keyboard, than some other (possibly better) tracking mechanism, however you got me intrigued: certainly the "not moving arm" bit is obvious once somebody makes you notice it, but one probably can't value the advantage without thinking of it a little bit, and possibly trying. Maybe one day I'll do!

    --
    If you can't understand the incipit, then please check the IPB Campaign.

      "I personally believe that they're not very popular in Italy:"

      blazer

      I don’t think trackballs are very popular in the UK either, but I don’t know what I would do without mine now.

      To start with I did find that my fingers went into a cramp after a couple of hours, but after a quick break and a rub I could resume again, after a couple of weeks I found that I could work for much longer without discomfort, and now brain tiredness stops me before physical discomfort.

      Logitech make a Trackman which is cordless and has scrolling and other customisable buttons, I think this would be ideal for you.

      People told me to start with that trackballs are ok but are not so useful for drawing (if you don’t have a graphics tablet). Again I found the trackball difficult to use for graphics, but very quickly I found that it was easier for me to draw complex shapes, for example this. drawing was done for a project using Freehand and Photoshop as was this

      I have a small Home Cinema which I can control with a trackball and Virtual Keyboard only using the keyboard when necessary.

      In the UK we have a great many resources for disability aids, both from local authorities and the private sector for example this organisation lists both software and hardware solutions including trackballs of various styles.

      I’m sure Italy is no different, try contacting your local Social Services Disability section, often these aids can be had on approval for suitability before buying.

      Gavin

      Trackballs never really did it for me, though it's been over a decade since I last touched one. I know I would have to go through a lot of pain just to get my hand muscles, etc. used to a trackball. But beyond that, I think it would be hard mentally to make the transition from mouse to trackball. I'm so used to using a mouse that it would feel very awkward for a very, very long time. Not to mention that there are things a mouse is clearly better at, such as gaming (especially First Person Shooters).

      Though with you being more of a keyboard person you might find a trackball more agreeable. If you want to give one a try though make sure you spend the extra money to get a really good one -- I don't think a cheap one would be a good test.

        But beyond that, I think it would be hard mentally to make the transition from mouse to trackball. I'm so used to using a mouse that it would feel very awkward for a very, very long time.

        I personally believe that I will second that: just like with programs, "one's best tool is the one she's already used to." (Sorry to quote myself... ;) But then again (you all) do not misunderstand me: I'm perfectly fine and at ease with my shiny and polished black Logitech cordless mouse! Only, I factually consider myself a person who uses the keyboard, compared with the former, much more than quite about anybody else I know. (Of course around the world there must be someone who is far better/worse than me...) And then again, the situation described in the root node somewhat increases the keyboard/mouse ratio of my needs.

        --
        If you can't understand the incipit, then please check the IPB Campaign.

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