IDEA: Improvement to On-screen pad

[Fernando Cassia]

I noticed I have the most trouble when trying to type special chars using the remote, that is, all the chars generated by repeated pressing of the "0" key.

What is the problem? It's quite simple:

1. First, the characters scroll "one by one", instead of "in batches".... this is distracting and confusing.

This confuses the eye, as all the previous chars are moved one position to the left. This is particularly annoying and distracting, take for example the need to enter the  - char using the remote: you press "0" repeatedly, until you reach the last char displayed, "+". when you press "0" again, you see the chars move left, and ... you lost focus... now the "-" char is so tiny that more often than not I missed it, so I had to start all over.

2. It is not clear on which position you are on the chars list. Just making the current char RED doesn't cut it. It's not enough.

HOW TO FIX THINGS:

1. Make long char lists (as in pressing 0) appear ONE SCREEN at a time, that is...
0 [ ] @ # & + (...more)
... if you press another time, replace it for the next 6 chars
-  *  ( ) { } (...more)
... and so on...

The "... more" is critical is it gives visual clue that the list doesn't end there...

2. Instead of just making the current character red, make it red and SURROUNDED BY A CIRCLE, or at least UNDERLINED.
I know this will probably means you'll have to redo the charset, or probably you could write a function that shows a character surrounded by a circle?

Thoughts? Ideas?

FC

[nerochiaro]

> 2. Instead of just making the current character red, make it red and
> SURROUNDED BY A CIRCLE, or at least UNDERLINED.
> I know this will probably means you'll have to redo the charset, or probably
> you could write a function that shows a character surrounded by a circle?

Won't comment on the rest, but this point only.
The circle is nice, but probably pretty hard to do right now with the
tools we have.
A thing that's possible, it to make a colored bar above and below the character.
if we make that thick and colored right, that should be enough of a visual clue.

I'll leave more comments on this and everything else to John, though.
--
nero

[Joe Born]

I agree wholeheartedly with this one, I noticed it, but haven't had time
to articulat the solution, so thanks for putting together the solution.
Actually this pre-dates John, so he can't be blamed for this :) please
enter in bugzilla (I'd do it myself, but then you won't be notified with
activity, etc). Unless this is harder than it seems, hopefully we can
get this done quickly.

Joe

[Fernando Cassia]

Another option, if the underline is not enough, would be making the "current character" of a larger font size than the rest!.

So, RED and larger AND underlined... I guess people will get a clue. :)

FC

--
Dream of the Daily Mail
It is the Holy Grail
And then the BBC
Your life would be complete

-Manic Street Preachers, "Royal Correspondent"

[Joe Born]

Fernando Cassia wrote:
> Another option, if the underline is not enough, would be making the
> "current character" of a larger font size than the rest!.
>
> So, RED and larger AND underlined... I guess people will get a clue. :)
>

did this ever make it into bugzilla? If not, I'll put it in there.

[Fernando Cassia]

Yes please. For some reason, Bugzilla didn't like me last time...

FC

[Joe Born]

> did this ever make it into bugzilla? If not, I'll put it in there.
>
>

http://bugzilla.neurostechnology.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2306