Johan Simbade
How to Use a Mouse and Keyboard For Computer Testing
When it comes to electronics, there are few items that split the two generations more than the mouse and keyboard. As our lives become more mechanized, computers take up more space, and more time. The invention of the mouse is one of the many computer technologies that came before the personal computer. The earliest mouse was essentially a pointing device with a pointer on the screen. Today, the mouse has various types of buttons, which are used to perform a variety of functions. Some of the most popular computer users include astronauts.
Computer users must frequently access data using a keyboard and mouse. Although the keyboard and mouse have changed over the years, they are often used in the same manner, and many people are familiar with the layout of both a computer and a keyboard. To make test study easier, study guides are available that outline common keyboard and mouse actions. In a research test, the use of a keyboard and mouse would provide test subjects with greater familiarity with the interface and increased dexterity to operate the interface.
When using a mouse or a keyboard, test subjects should be trained to identify and respond to symbols on the screen. Trainees should learn to point at an icon on the screen and identify which letters correspond to that icon. It is also important for test subjects to learn to click by pressing the appropriate keys on the keyboard. This repetition of keystrokes will make the test process faster.
It is important that test study subjects familiarize themselves with the layout of the keyboard and mouse. Most computer models come default with the familiar arrangement of the keys on the keyboard. Test subjects should spend considerable time familiarizing themselves with the layout. Failure to do so can result in difficulty when attempting new functions or navigating from one area of a test to another.
The test guide will provide details of what types of test subjects should be used for each test. In most cases, test guides recommend that a user select a particular test subject based upon their familiarity with the keyboard and mouse. Test subjects should be prevented from selecting subjects that would make the test run longer or produce unexpected results. Test guide authors also recommend that test subjects avoid using unfamiliar functions unless they have been thoroughly trained to use them.
In addition to familiarizing oneself with the layout of the keyboard and mouse, the test subject should familiarize themselves with typical test questions and how to response to them. Test guides will normally contain sample test questions that test subjects must answer. These questions should be designed to be as challenging as possible. Failure to respond properly to a question or fail to complete a response within the time allotted may decrease the test score. Test subjects should also practice correct keyboard and mouse movement and response on the computer screen to reinforce learning.
