John Payson writes:
>I would second this point.  Even for people with 20/20 vision, it's often
>nicer to be able to operate devices by feel than looking at them.  I person-
>ally prefer a slightly different tack though, on devices with numeric key-
>pads but small displays: precede each menu choice on the display by a number
>and then allow the user to *either* use arrow keys plus enter (if they do not
>know what they want) or else use the numeric keys directly (if they do).

        This is another perfectly good solution.  Anything to put the system
in a known state at a known point.

>  Of
>course, it should go without saying that the numeric keypad should be design-
>ed to be navigable by feel (none of those infernal flat mylar things!)

        That's for sure.  Those things don't seem to last very long either.

>  But
>if the keyboard and display are both used to best advantage, it should be
>possible to design an interface which is useful for both blind and sighted
>people alike.

        Absolutely.  It doesn't need to be loaded with speech generators
and artificial intelligence.  A little human intelligence at the design stage
is still the best policy.

Martin McCormick