Keyboard shortcuts ideas

Tue Jan 22 16:26:58 UTC 2013

Hi all,

I have been researching on keyboard shortcuts and thinking how it would look on different devices and how to minimize tasks for the user. Early on in the research, I came across a few important points that I needed to consider.
1. User needs to know that keyboard shortcuts exist.
2. User needs some sort of training or away to learn keyboard shortcuts.
3. User needs to have a reason to use keyboard shortcuts.
4. Existence of keyword shortcuts goes hand-in-hand with the frequency of use (If KBS are not used frequently, they will be forgotten).

I tried mapping my research on different types of keyboard shortcuts in this mindmap. What I realized was that keyboard shortcuts ( for example ctrl+c, ctrl+v) are designed for computers with keyboards, and if the user wants to perform the same task in other devices, they would interact in a different alternative way. I believe that is because the architecture and interface of those devices are different. One of the things I found out with this mind map was that most of the keyboard shortcuts used in computers is also used in other devices with alternative shortcuts.
 I've came up with 2 on-screen ideas that do not require a physical keyboard (keyboard shortcuts --> shortcuts). The idea is to simplify the task of getting somewhere faster and easier, and a universal interface across all platforms and devices.

 The 1st idea is an on screen bar that has the preferred shortcuts.
[cid:232affe9-be92-4b9e-a311-9a3b728c0e84 at ocadu.ca]
[cid:e2d7571d-34f6-4d47-9c2d-4ce58b580f89 at ocadu.ca]
[cid:79671460-0010-4d09-b61c-6d11769b2e7a at ocadu.ca]

The 2nd idea works with gestures.
[cid:98b45bbd-f864-4ab1-8952-433443afbdaa at ocadu.ca]
[cid:ae1dd74f-f4b2-48a5-87ea-e2bbcae7ba1e at ocadu.ca]
[cid:80ef2662-f01d-4691-a4a1-1393ea60e3c3 at ocadu.ca]
[cid:539eba80-aeb9-4d14-ae0e-3b460ca32138 at ocadu.ca]

One thing that separates these 2 designs, is customized versus universal settings.

With the 1st design we have the same shortcuts that are used universally, translated visually and on the screen. The benefits of having the shortcuts universal is in the learning process, so for example if you have a question about a shortcut, you can easily find someone to help you with it, all you would learn a new shortcut by seeing it somewhere else used by someone else.

The 2nd idea has its own benefits by being customizable. For example someone who can only use a mouth mouse or joystick can easily create a customized path for a function.

These ideas are still in an early stage in the process and are only a few solutions for a surprisingly huge challenge. please let me know what your thoughts are on these designs.

Arash

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