> > 1000x no on the trackball idea. Nixit. Agreed. Seconded. 100% Using this kind of marginal, rapidly-aging technology is what gives certain technophobic people an excuse for saying that computers are a Bad Thing in museums. Touch screen technology is the future. It's developing fast and some kinds are better than others. Good touch screens can be extremely robust and reliable. Here's a tip if you want something TOTALLY bomb-proof and your budget really can't stretch to touch screens. Mount four vandal-resistant push-buttons spaced apart in a row directly under the screen. Get your software written so that there are never more than four menu options. Indicate each choice with an on-screen arrow pointing down at one of the buttons. Then you just need to connect an interface unit between the push-buttons and the computer, so that each button corresponds with one of the keyboard keys (say, numbers 1 to 4). I can supply such interface units, if that's any help. -- Ian Russell [log in to unmask] Interactive Science Ltd http://www.interactives.co.uk (Come and take a look!)