Let’s run a quick experiment: Open an existing document in MS Word. Now, choose “Review” and then “New Comment.” (Or “Suggesting” and “Add Comment” in Google Docs.) I’ll bet that your mouse followed your eyes as you hunted for these two commands, whizzing back and forth across the top of the screen until these commands were located!
When we mouse for ourselves, our mouse cursor tends to follow where we are looking. But that is not a good practice for demos! Every additional non-productive mouse movement fatigues our audiences’ eyes and brains.
Solution?
Look, find, and then move.
In your demos, don’t move your mouse until you have located, with your eyes, the command, button, or screen element you wish to click or highlight. Then, move your mouse smoothly and deliberately from its current location directly to that element.
Bonus best practice?
Once you have found that element, circle it once (if desired), next move your mouse so it points directly at the element, and then take your hand off your mouse!
I have found that inanimate mice rarely move on their own…
Want more tips on mousing and related? See Chapter 15 “Style” in Great Demo!
