From: Jürgen Hestermann <juergen.hestermann_at_gmx.de>
Date: Wed, 17 Jun 2009 17:41:25 +0200

> So the correct fix would be to somehow scrap the "very long" concept, I
> guess. (Not to introduce more options...)

Yes. Different timings for button presses (or when lingering on certain
items) are not good for a user interface. I know there are not many
buttons available but complicating it with timings is not a good answer.

For example, it drives me nuts when I try to use the Windows Explorer
with the keyboard because when I linger for only half a second on a
directory (or drive) it tries to log it (even if it's the diskette drive
A: causing an error message). That's not good. Ok, it's not the same as
when *keeping* a button pressed but the latter annoys too because it
depends on your *feeling* for time.

Whenever you try to do a "long" press and don't press hard enough (so
that the buttons pops up for a microsecond) you inadvertantly have
selected a completely different function because of the "short" press
followed by yet another "short" press. This can lead to unwanted results.

If multiple functions have to be provided with only a few buttons a much
better way would be to present a pop up menu where the user can select
and confirm.

Jürgen Hestermann.
Received on 2009-06-17