Keyboard Clutter, Keystroke Counts & Calculator Menus
Supplementary Material to Accompany HPCC Datafile Articles:
V27N1: "Keyboard Clutter, Keystroke Counts & Calculator Menus"
V27N2: "Optimizing the Calculator User Interface"
V27N3: "The HP20b Calculator: A Missed Opportunity?"
Plus the HP Solve Newsletter Issue 23 Article "Tweaking the HP42S"
Jake Schwartz 27 March 2011 Questions or Comments? email:jakes@pahhc.org
The complete keyboard metrics data for the Hewlett-Packard Classics Series calculators:
HP 35 | HP 45 | HP 55 | HP 65 | HP 67 | HP 70 | HP 80 | ||||||||||||||||
tot # keys | 35 | 35 | 35 | 35 | 35 | 35 | 35 | |||||||||||||||
# generic shift keys (i.e. "f", "g") | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 | |||||||||||||||
(gold) | f, g | f, f-1, g | f, g, h | (gold) | ||||||||||||||||||
# marked generically-shifted fcns (f ASIN, etc.) | 0 | 23 | 48 | 38 | 75 | 0 | 11 | |||||||||||||||
f¯¹ | ||||||||||||||||||||||
# unmarked generically-shifted fcns (f·¹ ASIN) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||
# functional shift keys (i.e. "DSP", "STO") | 1 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 0 | |||||||||||||||
arc | STO, RCL, FIX | STO,RCL,FIX | DSP, GTO, LBL, STO, RCL | STO, RCL, DSP, GTO | STO, DSP | FIX, SCI | ||||||||||||||||
# unmarked shifted fcns (DSP n, etc.) | 3 | 28 | 30 | 58 | 59 | 13 | 10 | |||||||||||||||
# 3-key shifted A | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||
f SCI | GTO nn | DSP . | SF, CF, F? 0-3 | |||||||||||||||||||
# fcns per 3-key shifted A | 10 | 50 | 10 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||
# 3-key sequences B | 4 | 1 | 4 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||
STO +-x÷ n | f SCI | STO + - x ÷ | GTO f a-e | |||||||||||||||||||
# fcns per 3-key seq B | 9 | 10 | 9 | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||
# 3-key sequences C | 4 | 2 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||
RCL +-x÷ n | STO , RCL | f LBL 0-9 A-E, g LBLf a-e | ||||||||||||||||||||
# fcns per 3-key seq C | 9 | 10 | 20 | |||||||||||||||||||
# 3-key sequences D | 4 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||
STO +-x÷ | STO + - x ÷ 0-9, (i) | |||||||||||||||||||||
# fcns per 3-key seq D | 10 | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||
# 3-key sequences E | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
f GSB 0-9,A-E,(i), g GSBf a-e | ||||||||||||||||||||||
# fcns per 3-key seq E | 0 | 21 | ||||||||||||||||||||
# primary keys | 34 | 31 | 30 | 32 | 32 | 33 | 34 | tot # keys - tot # shift keys | ||||||||||||||
tot # primary fcns | 34 | 31 | 29 | 27 | 27 | 33 | 34 | # primary keys - # functional shift keys | ||||||||||||||
tot # shift keys | 1 | 4 | 5 | 8 | 7 | 2 | 1 | # generic shift keys + # functional shift keys | ||||||||||||||
tot # 2-key shifted fcns | 3 | 51 | 78 | 111 | 134 | 13 | 21 | # marked shifted fcns + # unmarked shifted fcns | ||||||||||||||
tot # 3-key sequences | 0 | 82 | 120 | 46 | 102 | 0 | 0 | (# 3-key sequences A * # fcns per 3-key seq A) + (# 3-key sequences B * # fcns per 3-key seq B)+ +( E) | ||||||||||||||
tot # functions | 37 | 164 | 227 | 184 | 263 | 46 | 55 | # primary keys + tot # 2-key shifted functions + tot # 3-key sequences | ||||||||||||||
Keyboard Clutter (# fcns per key) | 1.000 | 1.657 | 2.343 | 2.000 | 3.257 | 1.000 | 1.286 | tot # fcns on keyboard / tot # keys | ||||||||||||||
Keystroke Count | 40 | 379 | 545 | 387 | 601 | 59 | 76 | # primary keys + (2 * tot # shifted functions) + (3 * tot # 3-key sequences) | ||||||||||||||
Keystroke count per function | 1.081 | 2.311 | 2.401 | 2.103 | 2.285 | 1.283 | 1.382 | Keystroke count / total # functions | ||||||||||||||
HP35 |
HP 45 |
HP 55 |
HP 65 |
HP 67 |
HP 70 |
HP 80 |
||||||||||||||||
Ref: 65 Notes V2N1P11 | Ref: 65 Notes V4N1P8 |
Detailed Individual Classic-Series Calculator Metrics Charts:
Woodstock Series Key Functions and Metrics | ||||||||||||
HP 21 | HP 22 | HP 25 | HP 27 | HP 29C | ||||||||
tot # keys | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | |||||||
# generic shift keys (i.e. "f", "g") | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | |||||||
(blue) | (gold) | f, g | f, g | f, g | ||||||||
# marked shifted fcns (f ASIN, etc.) | 16 | 18 | 44 | 45 | 48 | |||||||
gold 0-9 | ||||||||||||
# unmarked shifted fcns (f·¹ ASIN) | 0 | 10 | ||||||||||
# functional shift keys (i.e. "DSP", "STO") | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | |||||||
DSP | STO,RCL | STO,RCL | STO,RCL | GSB,STO,RCL | ||||||||
# unmarked shifted fcns (DSP n, etc.) | 10 | 20 | 16 | 20 | 33 | |||||||
# 3-key generic shifted A | 1 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 4 | |||||||
DSP • | gold •,STO +-x÷ | f FIX, f SCI, f ENG | f FIX, f SCI, f ENG | f FIX, f SCI, f ENG, g LBL | ||||||||
# fcns per 3-key generic shifted A | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | |||||||
# 3-key sequences B | 4 | 8 | 4 | |||||||||
STO +-x÷ | STO +-x÷, RCL +-x÷ | STO +-x÷ | ||||||||||
# fcns per 3-key seq B | 8 | 10 | 11 | |||||||||
# 3-key sequences C | 1 | 2 | ||||||||||
GTO | STO, RCL | |||||||||||
# fcns per 3-key seq C | 50 | 6 | ||||||||||
# 3-key sequences D | 1 | |||||||||||
GTO | ||||||||||||
# fcns per 3-key seq D | 11 | |||||||||||
# 4-key sequences E | 4 | |||||||||||
STO +-x÷ | ||||||||||||
# fcns per 4-key seq E | 6 | |||||||||||
# primary keys | 29 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 28 | |||||||
tot # primary fcns | 28 | 27 | 25 | 26 | 24 | |||||||
tot # shift keys | 2 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 | |||||||
tot # 2-key shifted fcns | 26 | 48 | 60 | 65 | 81 | |||||||
tot # 3-key sequences | 10 | 50 | 112 | 110 | 107 | |||||||
tot # 4-key sequences | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24 | |||||||
tot # functions | 64 | 125 | 197 | 201 | 236 | |||||||
Keyboard Clutter (# fcns per key) | 1.500 | 1.567 | 2.500 | 2.533 | 2.700 | |||||||
Keystroke Count | 110 | 273 | 481 | 486 | 603 | |||||||
Keystroke count per function | 1.719 | 2.184 | 2.442 | 2.418 | 2.555 | |||||||
HP 21 |
HP 22 | HP 25 | HP 27 | HP 29C |
Detailed Individual Woodstock-Series Metrics Charts:
Spice/Spike Series Key Functions and Metrics | ||||||||||||
HP 31E | HP 32E | HP 33E/C | HP34C | HP 37E | HP38E/C | |||||||
tot # keys | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | ||||||
# generic shift keys (i.e. "f", "g") | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | ||||||
f | f, g | f, g | f, g, h | f | f, g | |||||||
# marked shifted fcns (f ASIN, etc.) | 28 | 53 | 53 | 64 | 18 | 44 | ||||||
f n, f · | f n, f · | |||||||||||
# unmarked shifted fcns (f·¹ ASIN) | 11 | 11 | ||||||||||
# functional shift keys (i.e. "DSP", "STO") | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 2 | ||||||
STO,RCL | STO,RCL | STO,RCL | GSB, GTO, STO,RCL | STO,RCL | STO,RCL | |||||||
# unmarked shifted fcns (DSP n, etc.) | 8 | 19 | 17 | 44 | 24 | 24 | ||||||
# 3-key generic shifted A | 2 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 2 | ||||||
f FIX, f SCI | f FIX, f SCI, f ENG | f FIX, f SCI, f ENG | f FIX, f SCI, f ENG, STO ·,RCL · | STO +-x÷ | STO ·, RCL · | |||||||
# fcns per 3-key generic shifted A | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 7 | 10 | ||||||
# 3-key sequences B | 4 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 1 | |||||||
STO +-x÷ | STO +-x÷ | STO +-x÷ | h LBL | g GTO nn | ||||||||
# fcns per 3-key seq B | 4 | 9 | 8 | 12 | 100 | |||||||
# 3-key sequences C | 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 | ||||||||
STO ·, RCL · | GSB nn, GTO nn | h SF, h CF, h F? | STO +-x÷ | |||||||||
# fcns per 3-key seq C | 6 | 50 | 4 | 7 | ||||||||
# 3-key sequences D | 1 | 1 | ||||||||||
STO f, RCL f, GSB f, GTO f | RCL g | |||||||||||
# fcns per 3-key seq D | 7 | 2 | ||||||||||
# 3-key sequences E | 4 | |||||||||||
STO +-x÷ | ||||||||||||
# fcns per 3-key seq E | 12 | |||||||||||
# 3-key sequences F | 2 | |||||||||||
f SOLVE, f òxy | ||||||||||||
# fcns per 3-key seq F | 6 | |||||||||||
# 4-key sequences G | 4 | |||||||||||
STO +-x÷ · | ||||||||||||
# fcns per 4-key seq G | 6 | |||||||||||
# primary keys | 29 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 29 | 28 | ||||||
tot # primary fcns | 27 | 26 | 24 | 23 | 27 | 26 | ||||||
tot # shift keys | 3 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 3 | 4 | ||||||
tot # 2-key shifted fcns | 36 | 72 | 70 | 108 | 53 | 79 | ||||||
tot # 3-key sequences | 36 | 78 | 162 | 141 | 28 | 150 | ||||||
tot # 4-key sequences | 0 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||
tot # functions | 99 | 200 | 256 | 272 | 108 | 255 | ||||||
Keyboard Clutter (# fcns per key) | 1.967 | 2.800 | 2.800 | 3.400 | 1.567 | 2.433 | ||||||
Keystroke Count | 207 | 500 | 650 | 662 | 217 | 634 | ||||||
Keystroke count per function | 2.091 | 2.500 | 2.539 | 2.434 | 2.009 | 2.486 | ||||||
HP 31E | HP 32E | HP 33E/C | HP34C | HP 37E | HP38E/C | |||||||
Detailed Individual Spice/Spike-Series Metrics Charts:
Voyager Series Key Functions and Metrics | ||||||||||
HP 10C | HP 11C | HP 12C | HP 15C | HP 16C | ||||||
tot # keys | 39 | 39 | 39 | 39 | 39 | |||||
# generic shift keys (i.e. "f", "g") | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | |||||
f | f, g | f, g | f, g | f, g | ||||||
# marked shifted fcns (f ASIN, etc.) | 34 | 61 | 46 | 55 | 64 | |||||
f n, f · | ||||||||||
# unmarked shifted fcns (f·¹ ASIN) | 11 | |||||||||
# functional shift keys (i.e. "DSP", "STO") | 3 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 4 | |||||
STO, RCL, GTO | STO, RCL, GTO, GSB | STO, RCL | STO,RCL, GTO, GSB | STO,RCL, GTO, GSB | ||||||
# unmarked shifted fcns (DSP n, etc.) | 24 | 56 | 26 | 71 | 68 | |||||
# 3-key generic shifted A | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 1 | |||||
FIX, SCI, ENG | FIX, SCI, ENG | STO +-x÷ | FIX, SCI, ENG | f FLOAT | ||||||
# fcns per 3-key generic shifted A | 10 | 10 | 5 | 11 | 11 | |||||
# 3-key sequences B | 4 | 4 | 2 | 11 | 1 | |||||
STO +-x÷ | STO +-x÷ | STO ·, RCL · | f X<>, f DSE, f ISG, STO +-x÷, RCL +-x÷ | f WINDOW | ||||||
# fcns per 3-key seq B | 10 | 11 | 11 | 17 | 8 | |||||
# 3-key sequences C | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | ||||||
GTO n n | f HYP, g HYP-1 | f HYP, g HYP-1 | f LBL | |||||||
# fcns per 3-key seq C | 80 | 3 | 3 | 16 | ||||||
# 3-key sequences D | 1 | 3 | 3 | |||||||
f LBL | f LBL, f SOLVE, f òxy | g SF, g CF, g F? | ||||||||
# fcns per 3-key seq D | 15 | 15 | 6 | |||||||
# 3-key sequences E | 3 | 3 | 2 | |||||||
g SF, g CF, g F? | g SF, g CF, g F? | STO ·, RCL · | ||||||||
# fcns per 3-key seq E | 2 | 11 | 16 | |||||||
# 3-key sequences F | 2 | 4 | ||||||||
STO ·, RCL · | STO ·, RCL ·, GTO ·, GSB · | |||||||||
# fcns per 3-key seq F | 10 | 10 | ||||||||
Misc 3-key sequences | 6 | |||||||||
g MATRIX, g TEST, f DIM, f RESULT, RCL, STO | ||||||||||
Tot # misc 3-key seq functions | 66 | |||||||||
# 4-key sequences G | 1 | 12 | ||||||||
g GTO n n | f <> ·, f DSE ·, f ISG ·, STO +-x÷ ·, RCL +-x÷ ·, f LBL · | |||||||||
# fcns per 4-key seq G | 100 | 10 | ||||||||
# primary keys | 38 | 37 | 37 | 37 | 37 | |||||
tot # primary fcns | 35 | 33 | 35 | 33 | 33 | |||||
tot # shift keys | 4 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 6 | |||||
tot # 2-key shifted fcns | 58 | 117 | 83 | 126 | 132 | |||||
tot # 3-key sequences | 150 | 121 | 42 | 410 | 85 | |||||
tot # 4-key sequences | 0 | 0 | 100 | 120 | 0 | |||||
tot # functions | 243 | 271 | 260 | 689 | 250 | |||||
Keyboard Clutter (# fcns per key) | 1.923 | 2.795 | 2.128 | 2.795 | 2.795 | |||||
Keystroke Count | 601 | 630 | 727 | 1995 | 552 | |||||
Keystroke count per function | 2.473 | 2.325 | 2.796 | 2.896 | 2.208 | |||||
HP 10C | HP 11C | HP 12C | HP 15C | HP 16C |
Keyboard Metric Computations Based On Fictitious Calculator Keyboards: What Happens When Various Keyboard Parameters Change One At A Time
A Real-Life Example - Increasing the Number of Keys And Decreasing the Number of Shifts: The HP67 versus HP97
An Opposite Real-Life Example - Decreasing the number of keys and increasing the number of functions: The HP18C versus the HP17B
Calculator Metrics for the HP41C - Clutter under control, Keystroke counts OUT OF CONTROL....
Onward to the complete keyboard metrics data for the HP32S, HP32SII, hp33s and HP35S calculators......Soft-key menus to the rescue
And finally, the wish-list machines: The HP 17BII++ and the HP 35S+
Pioneer Series Key Functions and Metrics | ||||||||||||||||||||||
HP 20S | HP 21S | HP 22S | HP 27S | HP 32S | HP 32SII | HP 42S | HP 10B | HP14B | HP 17B | HP17BII | ||||||||||||
tot # keys | 37 | 37 | 37 | 37 | 37 | 37 |
37 |
37 | 37 | 37 | 37 | |||||||||||
# generic shift keys (i.e. "f", "g") | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
1 |
1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||
left, right | left, right | blue | blue | gold | left, right | gold | gold | gold | gold | gold | ||||||||||||
# marked shifted fcns (f ASIN, etc.) | 60 | 60 | 25 | 21 | 15 | 43 | 19 | 35 | 29 | 9 | 12 | |||||||||||
# unmarked shifted fcns (f·¹ ASIN) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||
# functional shift keys (i.e. "DSP", "STO") | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 |
3 |
1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | |||||||||||
STO, RCL, XEQ | STO, RCL, XEQ | STO, RCL | STO,RCL | STO, RCL, XEQ | STO, RCL, XEQ | STO, RCL, XEQ | RCL | STO, RCL | STO,RCL | STO,RCL | ||||||||||||
# unmarked shifted fcns (DSP n, etc.) | 36 | 36 | 52 | 20 | 83 | 83 |
625 |
10 | 24 | 20 | 20 | |||||||||||
# 3-key generic shifted A | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 10 | 15 |
8 |
1 | 4 | 4 | 4 | |||||||||||
left HYP | left LOAD | STO+-x÷ | STO +-x÷ | (See HP32S Note Below) | (See HP32SII Note Below) | STO +-x÷, RCL +-x÷ | gold STO | STO +-x÷ | STO +-x÷ | STO +-x÷ | ||||||||||||
# fcns per 3-key generic shifted A | 3 | 6 | 26 | 10 | 28 | 28 |
210 |
10 | 12 | 10 | 10 | |||||||||||
# 3-key sequences B | 1 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
1 |
1 | |||||||||||||||
left LOAD | left FIX, right SCI,left ENG, STO+-x÷ | blue HYP | gold GTO | left LBL | gold GTO | gold DISP | ||||||||||||||||
# fcns per 3-key seq B | 6 | 10 | 3 | 27 | 26 |
205 |
12 | |||||||||||||||
# 3-key sequences C | 7 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
left FIX, right SCI,left ENG, STO+-x÷ | left GTO, right LBL | gold HYP | left HYP | STO +-x÷ |