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Thoughts on Manipulation in User Interfaces

March 11, 2003

It seems that visual, point-and-click style interfaces are great in situations where you must learn what is available before making a selection. But if you already know what you want to do, it takes too much time to move the mouse, aim, point, and click. In this case, the interface is getting in the way of you completing a task quickly and easily.

Many experts prefer a command-line interface over a GUI interface for that reason. But in a command-line interface, it still takes time to type what you want to do. And if you mistype it, the computer doesn't know what you want to do. The interface has just gotten in the way again.

A direct manipulation interface, like a touchscreen kiosk, is great for occassional use. But for long-term use, it is ergonomically bad. Your eyes want to look forward, but your hands want to be as if they were typing.

Voice recognition might be a solution in some scenarios, but offices would get very loud. Voice recognition is probably only realistic in situations where the hands may already be busy. In an operating room, for example.

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