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Figure 8. This is merely one-fifth of a
main menu from a telecommunications firm. It displays abbreviations so
users would not have to relearn associated menu option numbers whenever
new requirements changed the menu. The pattern appears to use the first
three characters of the first word, and the first character of the second
word. However, the scheme fails to remain consistent. Users had to use
brute force memorization! They would have been better off using numbers
for the menu options.
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Some corollary solutions to motor demands in screen writing:
- Use auto complete. It's an extension
of the truncated abbreviation technique; use drop down lists, combo-boxes,
and searching scrolled lists. Auto complete displays the best match
to the character string you type within the time-out period. The Win95
control panel uses it. Unfortunately, Win95 fails to provide it for
both combo-boxes and lists. Auto complete speeds input up to 100%
- Keep typing demands within familiar experience.
It's better to require a few extra keystrokes
in order to make a meaningful connection between the action and the
command word. That is, keep the mnemonics meaningful. For example, why
learn the UNIX command "grep" to find a file, when the command
"search" says it all? Likewise, why risk typing errors with
entering "E049a" when typing "error" can get the
same response from the system.
CONCLUSION Brevity. Cut crypto-obfuscation. Take the
time to write simple, concise prose. Yes, time does cost money. But when
it's spent on good screen writing, your development money saves "big
time" for your end-users. And remember, soul design is the wit of
brevity. (Apologies to Shakespeare.)
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