Re: Of mice and men


<docdwarf@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message news:d54ri1$h99$1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> In article <31jde.170917$cg1.100418@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>,
> Arnold Trembley <arnold.trembley@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
> [snip]
>
> >When I try to use a mouse to select Month and digits for the year,
> >nothing happens.
>
> [snip]
>
> >I'm using Netscape 7.2, and I believe I have javascript enabled.
>
> Ditto. Netscape 4.8, java/javascript disabled.
>

As the application is programmed using JavaScript, if the ability to execute
this language is disabled, then the application will not run. That will be
irrespective of any Browser dependent functions, or which Browser is being
used.

> Keyboard is infinitely faster?

Yes, in your case, it wins by default. :-) (I guess I could argue that mouse
took no time at all...? No...I thought not... :-))

Having successfully run BOTH sets of tests, I know that the results are
conclusive (it surprised me). However, I would expect other people to get a
different result because none of us is aware of how our subconscious
affects our behaviour when we do these tests. (I may have tried harder in
one test than I did in the other... I don't think I did, but the whole point
about subconscious is that we are not aware of it.)

For this to be really scientific we would need a baseline of data and a
group of normal users with little or no programming experience, across a
spectrum of ages and backgrounds.

I got someone else to try it and the results were pretty close to my own.

If I get time tomorrow, I'll post some base data to the page (at least one
of the tests I used was designed to stretch mouse movement) and people can
try entering THAT data (if they are so inclined... :-)) Results can then be
compared in a more meaningful way.

Pete.



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