Keyboard Shortcuts Reference

Master InterviewCue with Keyboard Shortcuts

Keyboard shortcuts are the secret to staying present with your guest while effortlessly capturing everything that matters. This page is your complete reference guide.

Philosophy: Never look away from your guest. Press a key, stay present.

[PLACEHOLDER: Visual keyboard map showing all shortcuts]

Why Use Keyboard Shortcuts?

Stay Present

The problem: Reaching for your mouse breaks eye contact and interrupts your connection with your guest.

The solution: Single-key hotkeys let you capture moments while maintaining focus.

Lightning-Fast Capture

Mouse workflow: Look at screen → find button → move cursor → click → type → submit
Hotkey workflow: Press key → type (optional) → Enter

Time saved: 3-5 seconds per capture × 20 captures = 1-2 minutes of pure focus.

Build Muscle Memory

After a few interviews, hotkeys become automatic:

  • Press 3 without thinking
  • Navigate with arrows instinctively
  • Capture flows naturally

The Five Event Capture Hotkeys

These are the core of InterviewCue. Master these first.

Quick Reference Table

Key Event Type Icon When to Use
1 Audio Issue 🔊 Coughs, interruptions, technical problems
2 Flow 💡 Follow-ups, topics to revisit
3 Highlight ⭐ Quotable moments, share-worthy content
4 Segment 📍 Chapter markers, topic breaks
5 Custom Note 📝 Anything else you want to remember

Detailed Breakdown

1 - Audio Issue 🔊

Purpose: Mark technical problems or interruptions for your editor

When to press:

  • Guest coughs or sneezes
  • Phone rings or notifications
  • Background noise (dogs, sirens)
  • Recording glitches
  • Internet connection drops
  • Anything that needs audio cleanup

Pro tip: Press 1, type quick context ("cough" or "phone"), hit Enter. Total time: 2 seconds.

2 - Flow 💡

Purpose: Note follow-up topics and conversation management

When to press:

  • "We should circle back to that"
  • Guest mentions something worth exploring later
  • Topic for future episode
  • Question to ask after they finish this story
  • Related topic to weave in naturally

Pro tip: Quick note like "ask about acquisition" lets you naturally return to topics without losing flow.

3 - Highlight ⭐

Purpose: Mark quotable, shareable, promotional moments

When to press:

  • Powerful quotes
  • Key insights or takeaways
  • Funny or memorable moments
  • Content perfect for social media clips
  • Main points for show notes
  • "That's going in the title" moments

Pro tip: This is your most-used hotkey. Press liberally—you can filter later.

4 - Segment 📍

Purpose: Create chapter markers and mark topic transitions

When to press:

  • Starting a new major topic
  • Natural break between sections
  • "Let's talk about..." moments
  • Clear topic shift
  • Chapter boundaries

Pro tip: Add a descriptive title ("The Beijing Story", "Scaling Challenges") for better chapter names later.

5 - Custom Note 📝

Purpose: Catch-all for anything that doesn't fit other categories

When to press:

  • Personal reminders
  • Books or resources mentioned
  • Names to follow up with
  • Show notes ideas
  • Gifts mentioned
  • Anything else

Pro tip: This is your flexible capture. Don't overthink categories—just capture it.

Navigation (Simplified!)

How Navigation Works Now

The entire interview is visible as scrollable text.

Instead of keyboard shortcuts, you navigate naturally:

Scrolling:

  • Mouse wheel
  • Trackpad gestures
  • Touch scrolling (mobile/tablet)
  • Page Up/Page Down keys

Click to Navigate:

  • Click any question title to jump directly to it
  • Question highlights and scrolls into view
  • In collaborative mode, everyone syncs to that question

Browser Search:

  • Press Cmd+F (Mac) or Ctrl+F (Windows/Linux)
  • Search across all questions and background notes
  • Jump between matches instantly

Why no arrow key shortcuts?

The old keyboard navigation (arrow keys, J key for jump-to) has been removed because:

  • Natural scrolling is more intuitive for document-style interfaces
  • Browser search (Cmd+F) is faster for finding specific questions
  • Clicking questions directly is simpler than button navigation
  • Fewer shortcuts to learn = easier for new users
  • Your browser already knows how to scroll smoothly!

Result: Simpler, cleaner interface with no navigation shortcuts to memorize.

Link Management Shortcuts

Viewing Links

Shortcut Action
L Open Quick Reference Links modal
Esc Close links modal

In the links modal:

  • Type to search/filter links
  • Click to open in new tab
  • Click "Copy" to copy URL

[PLACEHOLDER: Screenshot of links modal with shortcuts labeled]

Adding Links

Shortcut Action
Shift + A Add new link (Live Mode only)

Workflow:

  1. Press Shift + A
  2. Type or paste URL
  3. (Optional) Add name
  4. Press Enter

Link is saved and timestamped!

Playback Control Shortcuts

Timer Control

Shortcut Action
Space Pause/Resume timer

Usage:

  • Quick breaks
  • Technical issues
  • Interruptions

Note: All your progress is preserved during pause.

Modal and UI Shortcuts

General Controls

Shortcut Action
? View all shortcuts (help modal)
Esc Close any modal/dialog
Enter Submit/save in most dialogs
N Focus notes field (in event capture)

Event Capture Dialog

When an event capture dialog opens:

  • Enter - Save event and close
  • Esc - Cancel and close
  • N - Jump to notes field
  • Tab - Move between fields

Practice Mode Shortcuts

Practice Mode uses identical shortcuts to Live Mode.

Why: Build muscle memory in a safe environment before real interviews.

All hotkeys work the same:

  • 1-5 for events
  • ← → for navigation
  • J for jumping
  • L for links
  • Everything else

Shortcut Combinations

Common Workflows

Quick highlight capture:

Press 3 → Type note → Enter
(Total: 2-3 seconds)

Skip ahead:

Press → → → (three times to skip 3 questions)

Jump to specific question:

Press J → Click question 5

Check reference:

Press L → Search → Click link → Esc

Add resource mentioned:

Press Shift+A → Paste URL → Enter

Muscle Memory Development

The Learning Curve

First interview: Looking at keyboard, thinking about keys
Second interview: Starting to remember without looking
Third interview: Becoming automatic
Fifth interview: Pure muscle memory

Tips for Building Muscle Memory

  1. Use Practice Mode - Build habits without pressure
  2. Start with 1-3 only - Master event capture first
  3. Add navigation - Then learn arrow keys
  4. Expand gradually - Add other shortcuts one at a time
  5. Stay consistent - Use hotkeys every interview

Physical Keyboard Layout

Number row (left hand):

1️⃣ 2️⃣ 3️⃣ 4️⃣ 5️⃣

Position your left hand near these keys during interviews.

Arrow keys (right hand):

    ↑
  ← ↓ →

Natural navigation position.

Letter keys (easy reach):

  • J - Jump (left hand, home row)
  • L - Links (right hand, home row)
  • N - Notes (right hand, home row)

Keyboard vs. Mouse

When Hotkeys Shine

✅ Desktop interviews - Physical keyboard
✅ Multiple captures - Frequent events
✅ Fast-paced conversations - Quick capture needed
✅ Remote video calls - Keep focus on video

When Mouse is Fine

⚠️ Mobile/tablet - Touch-optimized buttons
⚠️ Rare captures - Only a few events
⚠️ Long descriptive notes - More typing than capturing

Best approach: Use both! Hotkeys for speed, mouse when convenient.

Platform-Specific Notes

Desktop (Windows/Mac/Linux)

✅ All shortcuts work perfectly
✅ Physical keyboard for muscle memory
✅ Best experience for hotkeys

iPad with Keyboard

✅ All shortcuts work
✅ Great portable setup
✅ Install as app for full-screen

iPad/Tablet (Touch Only)

⚠️ No physical hotkeys
✅ Large touch-optimized buttons
✅ Still fast with practice

Phone (Touch Only)

⚠️ No physical hotkeys
✅ Touch buttons available
✅ Landscape mode recommended

Accessibility Considerations

For Users Who Can't Use Standard Hotkeys

Alternative methods:

  • Large touch buttons (48px minimum)
  • Click-based workflow
  • Voice control (OS-level)
  • Custom key mapping (future feature)

For Users with Reduced Dexterity

Tips:

  • Use single-key shortcuts (easiest)
  • Skip modifier combinations if needed
  • Use mouse/touch instead
  • Adjust keyboard repeat rate

For Screen Reader Users

All buttons have proper ARIA labels and keyboard focus management.

Customization (Future Feature)

We're planning to add custom key mapping:

  • Remap hotkeys to your preference
  • Use different keyboard layouts
  • QWERTY vs. DVORAK support
  • International keyboard support

Stay tuned!

Complete Shortcut Reference

Event Capture

Key Action Available In
1 Capture Audio Issue Live Mode, Practice Mode
2 Capture Flow/Follow-up Live Mode, Practice Mode
3 Capture Highlight Live Mode, Practice Mode
4 Capture Segment Live Mode, Practice Mode
5 Capture Custom Note Live Mode, Practice Mode

Navigation

Method Action Available In
Scroll (mouse/trackpad/touch) Scroll through interview Live Mode, Practice Mode
Click question title Navigate to that question Live Mode, Practice Mode
Cmd+F / Ctrl+F Browser search across all questions Live Mode, Practice Mode
↑ Navigate up (in lists) Links modal
↓ Navigate down (in lists) Links modal

Note: Keyboard navigation shortcuts (arrow keys, J key) have been removed. Use natural scrolling and clicking instead.

Links

Key Action Available In
L Open Links Modal Live Mode, Practice Mode
Shift + A Add New Link Live Mode, Practice Mode

Playback

Key Action Available In
Space Pause/Resume Timer Live Mode

General UI

Key Action Available In
? View Shortcuts Help Live Mode, Practice Mode
Esc Close Modal/Dialog Any modal
Enter Submit/Save Most dialogs
N Focus Notes Field Event capture dialog
Tab Move Between Fields Forms and dialogs

Printable Quick Reference

One-Page Cheat Sheet

Core Events:

  • 1 - Audio Issue 🔊
  • 2 - Follow-up 💡
  • 3 - Highlight ⭐
  • 4 - Chapter 📍
  • 5 - Note 📝

Navigation:

  • Scroll - Mouse/trackpad/touch
  • Click - Click any question title
  • Cmd+F - Search questions

Actions:

  • L - View Links
  • Shift+A - Add Link
  • Space - Pause/Resume
  • ? - Help
  • Esc - Close

[PLACEHOLDER: Downloadable PDF quick reference card]

Tips for Mastery

Practice Session Workflow

  1. Create a practice interview with real questions
  2. Enter Practice Mode (nothing saved)
  3. Practice hotkeys without pressure:
    • Press each number key (1-5)
    • Navigate with arrows
    • Jump with J
    • View links with L
  4. Repeat until comfortable
  5. Use in real interview with confidence

Position Your Hands

Left hand: Rest near 1-5 keys
Right hand: Rest on home row or near arrows

Look Away from Keyboard

The goal is eyes on guest, fingers on keys.

After practice, you'll press hotkeys without looking.

Start Simple

Interview 1: Just use 3 (Highlights)
Interview 2: Add 4 (Segments)
Interview 3: Add 1 and 2
Interview 4: Master all five
Interview 5: Add navigation hotkeys

Related Documentation

Quick Start

Ready to try hotkeys?

  1. Read Quick Start Guide if you're new
  2. Create a test interview
  3. Enter Practice Mode
  4. Press the number keys and see what happens
  5. Build confidence before real interviews

After your first interview using hotkeys, you'll never want to go back! ⌨️