A few more words about the layout indicator

    In the wake of the previous topic .

    The main problem with the layout switch (at least with the tray, at least with alternative versions like the color of the mouse) is that it is NOT there, where the user is looking if he does not have touch typing skills.

    Conduct a short test and note: WHAT you do at the very beginning of typing. The correct answer: look at the keyboard to correctly place your fingers. Further, depending on the skill, the look is transferred to the screen in a couple of seconds (or a couple of minutes) - with the corresponding curse if the layout was not the same.

    UPD: the proof is trivial. If a person looked at the input field during typing, he would have noticed the layout was incorrect after 1-2 characters entered. If you never wrote the whole word, and then found the wrong layout - the idea is not for you.

    Hence the natural conclusion - the layout switching indicator should be ON THE KEYBOARD. This idea was expressed by several people in the stream - about using Caps Lock, Num Lock or a custom LED as an indicator. However, this solution is not universal - firstly, peripheral vision has to follow the indicator; secondly, these keys and indicators are already used for other purposes. In addition, it is incorrect to tie the layout switch to other keys - firstly, it will be inconvenient on another computer; secondly, the process of switching layouts is not annoying - the text typed in the wrong layout is annoying.

    Total: the indicator should be on the keyboard, in conspicuous places and not replace other indicators. Attention, the question is: where on the keyboard is there a vast empty space that is always in sight? Answer: on the most frequently pressed key - a space. Here is the solution: the layout indicator should be in the middle of the space bar. When you start typing, skipping this indicator will be very difficult.

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