by admin
Internet cafe observation
March 31, 2007 in T307 Design Diary by admin
I am in an EasyInternet cafe observing web users using computer keybaords and equipment.
There are some familiar objects on the tables. Food and drink and mobile phones. The keyboards are all standard QWERTY style boards and each computer has a mouse.
The tables are set up so that there is adequate arm stretch space between the keyboard and the mouse. People do not seem to be typing fast the main activity is browing to a location and then reading from the screen.
The room is more like a library than a computer workroom.
Some ideas then:
- Cupholders – variable size to fit a large cappuccino takeaway
- Small form ~QWERTY keyboard – see link these already exist in one form or another
Small keyboard image
- Mobile phone holder
- Paper organiser for use in front of a keyboard
- Function key free keyboard – who needs it in an internet cafe?
- Remove caps lock key
- Return key on both sides
- Programmable keys
- Function keys on screen launch key
- Seperate numeric keypad
In this cafe a lot of people seem to just come and eat rather than use the machines. Someone has just come in and sat next to me. I will observe his activities. He has a problem logging in!
OK he’s in…
Lots of mouse useage, adjust seat and very few contact with the keyboard. When typing he hunts and pecks for the letters one at a tikme using one finger.
Looking at the way that people use a keyboard and mouse the combined keyboard and mouse system does not look like a good idea. People I have observed seem to prefer to use their arms widely spread rather than close together.
People behind me are using their mobile phone at the same time as their computer. The mobile phone is so prevalent that there is almost a natural relationship between it and using a computer.
The guy next to me is playing an online game which only seems to require the use of a mouse. Looking at the activities in here it seems that the keyboard design as it stands is not that improtant. Interestingly there are not many (if any) ways that a disabled person could access these computers. There is probably not enough space for a wheel chair to get to a work station. This is anther issue really.
A man along from me is using his mobile phone.
Maybe an idea is a mobile phone integrated with a mouse or keyboard. Skype internet phone integrated into the computer hardware maybe? Or maybe not looking at a review of one online.
The guy next to me has not touched his keyboard since logging on. The keyboard is now just in the way. Maybe what’s needed is a fold-up keyboard lever to get it out the way when not in use?
Woman arrived on my left and jsut logging in. Takes up the usual right on mouse and hand left hand on keyboard position.
Looking at users the mouse seems to be much more important in terms of connection to the computer. People seem to always be touching the mouse (unless typing) even when not actually making it do anything.
The woman to my left is writing on a piece of paper from the screen.
Conclusion:
- Keyboard does not seem to be a big deal or need to be made faster as most of the time people do not need to type fast.
- The mouse seems more improtant as a tactical object
- The mobile phone is often nearby
- Paper is often nearby
- There is a lot of intermittent activity between the mouse and keyboard and then reading
- Some games make little or no use of the keyboard
- There seems to be a typical ‘relaxed posture’ between the mouse and keyboard with arms wide apart
Opportunities for development include the smaller form keyboard.
