2.2.6-2 Pointing

When user input involves frequent pointing on a display surface, the interface should be designed so that other actions (e.g., display control) are also accomplished by pointing, in order to minimize shifts from one entry device to another.

Additional Information:
This recommendation implies extensive use of menus in the margins of a graphic display to permit direct selection of control options by pointing. If screen capacity is too limited to permit simultaneous display of both graphic data and menus, then the designer might provide temporary superposition of menu windows on displayed data, or might provide some separate display device to show current options for control entry. Control entry via keyboard and/or function keys will be less satisfactory. If pointing is performed on some separate input device, such as a stylus on a digitizing tablet, then associated control actions should also be implemented via that device. For graphics software, a pointing action by a user can accomplish several different logical functions: specifying a displayed element ("pick" function); selecting a system-defined object, attribute, or action ("button" or "choice" function); or indicating a location in the conceptual drawing space ("locator" function). A designer must distinguish among these functions, although most users will not. Alphabetic entry for titles, labels, and other annotation of graphic displays will be accomplished more quickly by conventional keyboard input than by pointing.