Re: Thin Clients

["Raul A. Jager W." <raul@xxxxxxxxxx>]

I agree, green screen is the fastest tool for data entry. 
I think a browser application can be made as fast as green screen if you 
avoid the "visual feed-back". 
Fast data entry operators do not look at the screen, they have their 
eyes on the data sheets and their fingers on the keyboard. 
But, it is a lot easier to train a new operator if he can see the data 
he is typing. 
An easy to use browser interface will move the "data entry" to the 
people who know the data, and they will type it directly to the 
application, rather than filling the forms to be entered by the 
"profesional data entry people" lowering the cost.

Steve Landess wrote:

> Steve -
>
> Rob will call me a dinosaur (he has probably called me worse things), but I 
> agree.
> One hundred percent!
>
> And in my informal surveys within my clients, EVERYONE who has ever done
> data entry agrees with what you said.
>
> Browser-based is never as efficient as green screen at pure data entry. 
> Period.
>
> - sjl
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Steve Moland" <steve@xxxxxxxxxxx>
> To: <midrange-l@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Thursday, September 13, 2007 10:12 AM
> Subject: Thin Clients
>
>
>  
>
> > While not necessarily limited to the functionality of thin clients, I get 
> > a regular "personal" and in my face reminder of using the wrong tool. Make 
> > no mistake, I love working with my PC and its application all day long but 
> > "there are those times".
> >
> > When your job depends on the through-put of work that people who report to 
> > you can get through a system, it becomes clear to you that political 
> > correctness is your enemy.
> >
> > My background in accounting and company paper flow gives me a more 
> > been-there-done-that way of looking at what counts, and I think to ask 
> > those who have to use these system if they see what I see.
> >
> > I haven't had to worry about my pay being based on such an environment for 
> > a long long time and that is great.
> >
> > One of the many things I do is to keep and maintain a software use 
> > authorization database for a software company. Some of their customers 
> > have hundreds of in-store Iseries boxes. For many of the cpu additions and 
> > changes my browser based software over our local intranet is about as fast 
> > as it could be in response time and the design paid good attention to 
> > through put.
> >
> > However, every once in awhile I get a list of dozens of changes and it is 
> > when I'm trying to get out the door, or the requestee forgot to get a new 
> > batch of boxes authorized and they are stuck in finishing the many 
> > software loads they need to do now. I don't begrudged the requests because 
> > that's part of what the service is.
> >
> > At that point I am reminded of the differences between browser based and a 
> > few other green screen things I work on. Every time I have to take my 
> > hands off the keyboard to use the mouse I want to throw it across the 
> > room. I'm a fast and accurate two-handed typist and I miss the buffered 
> > reliable "type type, ENTER, type, tab, etc." that makes for real through 
> > put production. When I have to work on one those lists in a hurry my hands 
> > are sweating before I finish.
> >
> > And I have to tell you I've really tried to help the situation by buying 
> > and discarding a bunch of mice in order to find one that is responsive 
> > enough but not overly responsive.  I really miss the take no prisoner 
> > positive keyboard feedback of the old IBM 5250 90 Pound terminals.
> >
> > The browser app has lots of "cute" features but "cute" suffers badly you 
> > got to get the job done NOW. It's wonderful for the less than trained user 
> > and suppose if I was responsible for having to employ some of the poor 
> > quality workers out there I would think differently.
> >
> > regards
> > Steve Moland