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Odd key choice

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Mark Fowler

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May 21, 2002, 8:45:09 AM5/21/02
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I see that you're attempting the classic inverted T shape with

U
HJK

This is okay, but forces me to move my hand right one key to use
it as one, as my fingers rest on the JKL: keys.

How about using

I
JKL

Instead?

Google Employee

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May 21, 2002, 2:25:32 PM5/21/02
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That's a great suggestion. Other feedback we've gotten pointed out
that pressing the U key requires an extension of the index finger;
IJKL are all easily accessible from the fingers on the home row.

The Keyboard Shortcuts demo now uses IJKL for directional navigation.

Thanks for the feedback!
The Google Keyboard Shortcuts team

googlenews...@twoshortplanks.com (Mark Fowler) wrote in message news:<b4e5b39d.02052...@posting.google.com>...

Marc Randolph

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May 21, 2002, 5:27:21 PM5/21/02
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googlenews...@twoshortplanks.com (Mark Fowler) wrote in message news:<b4e5b39d.02052...@posting.google.com>...

I hope they change it back.

The vi editor that many of us know and love use j for down and h for
left. The inverted T shape kept the most commonly used direction,
down, the same. Compared to how often you need to move left, moving
your finger one key over to do so is nothing.

I dare say more people use, or have used, vi than an Apple ][.

Marc

Scott Evans

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May 21, 2002, 5:57:20 PM5/21/02
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keyboard-...@google.com (Google Employee) wrote in message news:<6059ba5.02052...@posting.google.com>...

> The Keyboard Shortcuts demo now uses IJKL for directional navigation.

Which is, of course, a little confusing for vi users. :)

scott

br0ck

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May 22, 2002, 11:19:23 AM5/22/02
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mr...@my-deja.com (Marc Randolph) wrote in message news:<15881dde.02052...@posting.google.com>...

First, I think this feature is great!

It looks like almost everyone has a different preference for
navigation keys. Would it be possible to personalize the navigation
keys? Perhaps you could have a form for the user to match each feature
to a key and then save the settings to a cookie.

I personally found the current configuration to be ok, but I would be
more comfortable with other layouts I've seen suggested like VI or the
3D shooter default of WASD. Perhaps you could just have 5 layouts and
a user could pick the one they like the most?

Also, I second the motion mentioned in another post to allow opening
in a new window. How about shift-enter to open the link in a new
window and shift-C to open the cached article in a new window?

SP

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May 23, 2002, 3:07:28 AM5/23/02
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mr...@my-deja.com (Marc Randolph) wrote in message news:<15881dde.02052...@posting.google.com>...
haha, change the vim keymappings....ijkl is much easier, especially
when you have a small li'l happy-hacker keyboard. I like my mouse, but
i would rather do most things without it.

David Norris

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May 23, 2002, 9:08:44 PM5/23/02
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zee...@mail.ru (SP) wrote in message
> ijkl is much easier, especially when you have a small
> li'l happy-hacker keyboard.

Unless... One has installed the Dvorak kit on their Happy Hacker
keyboard. ;-) If I was going to complain about anything it would be
that the key mappings can't be changed. Somewhat minor issue with me,
really. I and K are in favorable locations on Dvorak and those are
the keys I seem to use the most.

The key shortcuts are an awesome idea regardless of the current
implementation.

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