Re: A poll until next Wednesday, 12.12.12, 12:12 UTC
Message #55 Posted by Dale Reed on 5 Dec 2012, 2:10 p.m.,
in response to message #1 by Walter B
I'll start with my response to the poll:
/ x - +
Now, the justification, and comments that have been stewing in my head related to all the recent polls and layout discussions.
Firstly, I'm right-handed.
Secondly, I received an HP-25 for my 18th birthday in 1975.
So you know the biases and preconceived notions I'm working from...
I believe that the first, and maybe only, part of any calculator people work by touch alone, without looking, would be the number keys and the decimal point. Unless they use the calculator very frequently, they will LOOK when they do anything else, with the possible exceptions of ADD (+) and SUMMATION (Sigma +) (or, maybe R/S, for people who use programs extensively). I believe those items should be corner keys if you want to do them by touch.
Based on that reasoning, and assuming a right-handed operator, if you are resting your right hand on the number keys, EVERYTHING else should be visible. The number keys should be on the farthest bottom right.
I believe all the number entry stuff should be together: digits, decimal point, +/- (CHS), E (EE, EEX), backspace (<-), and, for complex numbers, i (j) and/or angle (theta). I also believe the stack manipulation keys should be near the ENTER^ key -- in a block or in the same row or column.
The four basic arithmetic operators should be together, and, as I stated above, + should be a corner key.
Doing those things, I would argue for a keyboard with this layout (assuming five colums of keys in all rows below the ENTER key):
ENTER^ Rv x<>y <-
/ Theta 7 8 9
* i 4 5 6
- CHS 1 2 3
+ EEX 0 . Sigma+ <--(or R/S)
I guess I'm a key short in the ENTER^ key row... Sorry. We can discuss what else should be in this row that "works well" with stack manipulation. (But I don't think I'd make roll-up a primary key.) Hmmmm.... Would RCL count as related to stack manipulation / number entry (with STO -- which should be primary -- immediately above it)?
Walter, I really DON'T like turning polls of "select A or B" into messy flame wars. But in this case, I HAD to point out some of the flaws I've seen in the arguments, especially about what gets "covered" by your hand (assuming most users are right-handed).
The above layout:
1. Puts + and Sigma+ in the corners, easiest to find by touch.
2. Puts all the number entry stuff, inclding for complex numbers, in one block, as far to the bottom right as possible so as not to have any function keys (except Sigma+ per item 1) "covered" when your right hand is resting on the digit keys.
3. Puts the arithmetic operators in a reasonable order, based on locating + per item 1.
4. Puts the backspace in a convenient "little-finger" place, similar to its location in a typing keyboard.
5. Puts the double-wide ENTER key (WITH the upward pointing arrow, please!) in a familiar location for the vast majority of RPM calculator users.
6. Little things -- CHS next to MINUS, THETA next to / (for angle) or % (division symbol, not percent) is just "prettier"... I'm weird that way.
I'm sure I'll be told why I'm wrong...
Dale
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