RE: Re: Mac fkeys
RE: Re: Mac fkeys
- Subject: RE: Re: Mac fkeys
- From: "Michael Latta" <email@hidden>
- Date: Thu, 26 Oct 2006 08:53:40 -0700
The real solution is to stop using single key stroke shortcuts. Jef Raskin
suggested that it would be much better to use more meaningful sequences.
For example while holding down the command key type "exp" as a unique
initial sequence to the "expose" command. Or "spaces" for spaces, etc. For
a typical typist these would be about as fast as single key combinations,
but have less think time. The most common commands could have a unique
single key short-cut command for things like select all, save, etc. If the
user fails to press enter before releasing the command key the command is
aborted. Command entry would be displayed as semi-transparent keys overlaid
on the entire screen in very large type. I built a prototype using this
type of system. It works quite well, the problem is that the system has
assigned meaning to all the modifier keys.
Michael
> -----Original Message-----
> From: xcode-users-bounces+lattam=email@hidden [mailto:xcode-
> users-bounces+lattam=email@hidden] On Behalf Of Mark Munz
> Sent: Thursday, October 26, 2006 8:30 AM
> To: Michael Rice
> Cc: email@hidden
> Subject: Re: Re: Mac fkeys
>
> I agree with Theodore, Apple has gone mad over keys leaving the 3rd
> party developer and end user stuck with no customization options.
>
> One suggestion might be to add a "User" modifier key. Apple should
> then have a policy not to use the "User" modifier. This would give the
> user at least the option of User-F1 or User-Opt-F1, etc.
>
> Alternatively, they could add a "Fn" key to all the keyboards (read
> Desktop) and migrate their hot keys to Fn-modifier + Key for
> System-wide use, freeing up the original Cmd, Opt and F1 keys for the
> user to define.
>
> <rant>
> Of course, they'll likely do neither. Instead, they'll just keep
> taking more and more keys for system-wide services, some of which
> aren't even worthy (do you really need to pre-define a hot key to
> bring up the character palette? Why not just leave it blank and let
> the user add it if he needs it)
>
> As a user it sucks that Apple is stealing all my system-wide hot key
> options. As a developer it sucks worse that I can't offer more
> relevant hot key options because Apple took them for the system, or
> will take them shortly (I'm sure Spaces will take another couple hot
> keys away).
>
> Cmd-Escape, Cmd-Shift-3, Cmd-Shift-Ctrl-3, Cmd-Shift-4,
> Cmd-Shift-Ctrl-4, F9, F10, F11, F12, F14, F15 Ctrl-F1, Ctrl-F2,
> Ctrl-F3, Ctrl-F4, Ctrl-F5, Ctrl-F6, Ctrl-F7, Ctrl-F8, Cmd-`,
> Cmd-Opt-`, Cmd-Opt-T, Cmd-Opt-D, Cmd-Opt-8, Cmd-Opt-Ctrl-8,
> Cmd-Ctrl-D, Cmd-Space, Cmd-Opt-Space, Cmd-Shift-Q
>
> Come on.. it's getting ridiculous. If you, as a developer, want to
> provide a system-wide hot key for the user, good luck!!
> </rant>
>
> Mark Munz
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