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From: mel@houxm.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.micro
Subject: Re: Light Pens vs. Mouse
Message-ID: <456@houxm.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 29-Jun-83 09:38:39 EDT
Article-I.D.: houxm.456
Posted: Wed Jun 29 09:38:39 1983
Date-Received: Thu, 30-Jun-83 17:14:48 EDT
Lines: 39

Andy,
The mouse and lightpen can both be used to point, track, and sweep exactly
the same small cursor.  The pen diameter doesn't matter, you just tilt it
such that it doesn't obscure (the same as you do with your pen or pencil
while writing).  It is the mark on the phosphor you are looking at, not the
pen or mouse.  Only the most clodish lightpen programming would require
direct, blind pointing of the pen (no cursor).

The real troubles with the pen are that you have to pick it up and hold it.
And, as you noted, only one button naturally fits.  Another factor against
the lightpen is that it is almost impossible to keep the things working  -
in a production environment where there are response delays, the lightpen
is what is banged against the table, its cord is what gets twisted and knoted.
Of course, keyboards and mice get abused, too.  But lightpens seem to be
more at hand.

Touch screens are a real lose, unless your application is very simple and
low resolution.  It is very hard to couple your finger to a small spot on
the screen.  Also, who wants dirty fingerprints all over the screen?  The
touch screen is great for menu selections from a TV-like presentation -
cute, but not as good as real buttons for the "executive" work station -
probably useless for production terminal uses.

The bit pad has all the disadvantages of the lightpen and the mouse, with no
redeeming advantages; except that some can also digitize drawings.  (I would
discount the character recognition capability, unless you really had an
appropriate application for just that.)

Joy sticks, thumb wheels, and small trackballs seem to be just too hard to
use.  Something about their dynamic range.  Perhaps someone from human
factors could enlighten us further?  Arrow keys are awful, I think everybody
will agree.  I have no experience at all with large track balls  --  anyone
care to contribute?

In my opinion, the mouse is the big win for normal workstation use.  The
lightpen 2nd rate, and the others below that.  This from 18 years of using,
observing, designing, and programming graphics and conventional terminal
systems.
  Mel Haas  ,  houxm!mel