Keyboard Shortcuts for Enhanced Efficiency.

Keyboard shortcuts are essential for improving efficiency.

For instance, in chrome browser pressing Shift + W lets you exit at any time, and Shift + Cmd + T brings back a closed tab. This demonstrates the power of keyboard shortcuts.

As we roll out our new document review show page design, our goal is to build a more efficient product that enhances review efficiency and data accuracy. To empower our power users further, we decided to integrate keyboard shortcuts. We don’t want to leave any stone unturned.

Identifying Key Actions

To implement this, we first identified the actions that would benefit from keyboard shortcuts. We analyzed the frequency of these actions and created a prioritised list.

CLM Platform Unique Context

Unlike complex tools like Photoshop, Figma, Word, or Excel, Sirion AE hasn't included shortcuts until now due to its simpler feature set. However, we recognize the value they can bring with deployment of new revamped showpage.

Research and Inspiration

We studied existing shortcuts in various tools for inspiration. For example, Jira uses J and K to navigate between issues (Previous = J, Next = K). We also considered commonly used shortcuts like Ctrl + C for copy and Ctrl + V for paste.

For Sirion AE, our users—primarily lawyers—are accustomed to tools like MS Word and Excel. Therefore, we aimed to incorporate similar shortcuts, keeping in mind Jakob's Law, which states that users prefer familiar design patterns.

Three Key Considerations for Shortcut Design

Discoverability
Memorability
Conflict-Free Use

Discoverability

We had two options for making shortcuts discoverable:

1.Common Help and Command Bar: Listing all shortcuts with options for user customization.

2. Fixed Key Sets: Intensive user research to create a fixed set of shortcuts that enhance user experience without customization options.

The second option ensures shortcuts are reliable and consistent since users cannot modify them.

Memorability

Using the first letter of an action (e.g., S for Save, F for Filter) is often suggested for memorability. However, physical proximity on the keyboard can sometimes compromise this. For example, using N for next and P for previous isn't ideal due to their awkward physical locations.

Instead, we drew inspiration from Figma,& chrome which uses Ctrl + 1, 2, and 8,9 to navigate between tabs in sequence. This approach leverages the physical layout of the keyboard for better memorability.

Conflict Free

Let suppose we have made sure that above two factors are considered and we have some hypothesis for keys.

But one major thing we are worried - is key binding conflicts.

We were aware of the operating system and browser key that would already exist around the context of the product, and avoided using them for their own bindings.

Most of our users uses Sirion platform on chrome and on windows laptop.

These keys are mostly binded as

Ctrl + Any key
Ctrl + Alt + Any key
Ctrl + Shift + Any key

Conclusion:

Design Principles for AE Shortcuts

Simpler actions on Sirion AE it is not as complex than MS Word and Excel.
Do not assign browser shortcuts keys specially chrome - to avoid conflict, Can be similar with word or excel for Sirion AE.
Explore around - Commonly used keys leveraging familiar mental models (Jakob's Law).
Consider product familiarity: Users are accustomed to Excel and Word shortcuts.
No single letter shortcuts: Avoiding shortcuts eg. F for filter, focusing instead on actions primarily located on one side of the screen.
Physical Proximity: Ensuring shortcuts are easy to reach and use based on their physical location on the keyboard.
Avoid native binding Keys that are already occupied

By considering these factors, we developed a set of keyboard shortcuts that enhance efficiency, are easy to discover and remember, and fit seamlessly into our users' existing workflows.

We need test/validate these with making figma prototype and note how difficult or easy these are for our users on three parameters