Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!cmcl2!floyd!vax135!cornell!uw-beaver!microsof!decvax!genrad!mit-eddie!smh From: smh@mit-eddie.UUCP Newsgroups: net.micro Subject: Re: Question on the mouse, comments abou - (nf) Message-ID: <387@mit-eddi.UUCP> Date: Sun, 10-Jul-83 00:02:18 EDT Article-I.D.: mit-eddi.387 Posted: Sun Jul 10 00:02:18 1983 Date-Received: Thu, 7-Jul-83 02:47:32 EDT References: <800@pur-phy.UUCP> Lines: 19 The question is why lightpens are not more used, as pointing to the screen seems more natural. Alas, it really isn't. Tape a piece of paper to your present CRT screen and try writing on it. Try the same thing on a piece of paper placed normally on your desk. The point is that it is very awkward writing or doing detailed pointing with your arm suspended in midair. (It can also be very tiring, as we academic types who do a lot of blackboard work can attest.) Lastly, performing a quick point takes far longer as the pen must be located, picked up, used, and put down again. A mouse is usually already sitting on its working surface when you want it. Perhaps these problems with lightpens could be fixed if someone would make a CRT with a tube built into a desk top (plexiglass cover, etc.)... The end device would have zero footprint when it wasn't being used! Steve Haflich genrad!mit-eddie!smh