creat 1121

can get.

We use these computer thingies as extensions to our own brains. They do some things very well, lots better than us, actually, but they suck royally at others. Communication with the brain is also a major problem; humans weren't built with a TCP-IP interface.

last couple of decades. Graphics and mice are wonderful devices when the computer is supposed to be in the driver's seat. Graphics have a human perceptory bandwidth close to gigabits; and can present movies, graphics, text etc extremely efficiently.

The downside is the back channel. The bandwith of a mouse-click is on the order or single-digit bauds. Here we need a better channel. Keyboards are the best yet invented, but it requires a LOT of training to get right. Keyboards can depend on motoric reflexes, but mice requires a whole see-point-click mental exercise. This engages a lot of brain effort compared to a keyboard.

But to be productive writing on one you need to get a command set fully integrated into your normal sensory-motoric framework. Just like you need to do to operate a car, motorcycle, sewing machine or to steer a sailboat. It needs to get to the point of reflexes.

Keyboards is the only way yet successful to such a level of motoric proficiency. But the bandwidth of the world record for typing contests would not be able to beat a 600 baud modem. Most people with some training can beat a telex at 50 baud, but you have to be pretty proficient to beat a 134 baud "fast telex".

To even get to this speed requires the reflexes right. The word "requires" above was actually entered as r e l f e x e ^U ^B ^T ^E s; without me stopping to think about the editing commands; and only very briefly stopping the train of thought.1

I just cannot see how that can be acheived with intermixed mice in the picture. Even using keyboard shortcuts still invokes the see-point-click loop, even though you don't have to move your hand.

This "double merit" view implies that I want dual interfaces to programs, and want consistent interfaces between them.

-- mrr

1 The bit of typing that seems to get worse with age is the fine-timed simultaneous control of both hands, so keys near the home areas for both hands often gets transposed. Brain sends commands to hands, but they obey in the wrong order.