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Aucbvax.3185 fa.works utzoo!decvax!ucbvax!works Thu Sep 17 13:25:46 1981 WorkS Digest V1 #16 >From DUFFEY@MIT-AI Thu Sep 17 12:50:08 1981

WorkS Digest Wed, 16 Sep 1981 Volume 1 : Issue 16

Today's Topics: Administrivia - Issue numbering, Input devices - Mice ----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: 16 September 1981 22:55-EDT From: The Moderator <DUFFEY AT MIT-AI> Subject: Administrivia - Issue numbering

Due to a combination of problems, the last three WorkS issues were misnumbered. These issues, which were dated 3, 4, and 8 Sep., should have been numbered V1 #13, V1 #14, and V1 #15. Today's issue is V1 #16 and it immediately follows the issue dated 8 Sep. My thanks to everyone who pointed out these errors. -- RDD

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Date: 16 September 1981 02:55-EDT From: Steven T. Kirsch <SK MIT-MC AT> Subject: What is the "optimum" shape of a mouse?

Here's your chance to "shape" the future course of mouse-kind. I would like to know what people think the ideal mouse should be shaped like. Also, should there be less than three buttons? Note that this is an optical design (the mouse slides on a surface, rather than rolling) so comments about the mechanics are not applicable.

Comments will be accumulated on MIT-MC in SK;MOUSE SURVEY (no password needed to ftp).

Some comments I received so far follow. If you have any opinions on these, please voice them. Some of the following comments are mutually exclusive.

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The Xerox mouse is too small. It doesn't fit the hand well/it is hard to find.

The Xerox mouse is too large.

The ISI/TYMSHARE mouse is way too large.

Long buttons are great for accomodating various size hands.

The buttons should have good "bounce" to them to facilitate double and triple clicking.

The MIT mouse (tan case) seems to be about the right size.

The mouse should have rectangular shape and edges. Any hand contouring is doomed to failure because of the wide variety of hand sizes.

The mouse should be rounded to fit the contours of the hand (prolate hemi-spheroid). The hand should slip naturally into a "home" position where the fingers rest on the buttons.

The mouse should not be "handed". This is to accomodate lefties as well as two handed mouse applications.

The wrist must be able to rest on the table with the fingers comfortably on the buttons. This is necessary for accurate positioning.

There shouldn't be more than three buttons on the mouse because two fingers are needed to move it around. Also, coordination is difficult.

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[ If you want a copy of the survey messages and cannot obtain it yourself, please send a message to WorkS-REQUEST at MIT-AI. We will be happy to insure that you receive a copy now. A file containing all of the responses will be made available for FTP distribution when the query is over. -- RDD ]

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