The Field Guide is an illustrated handheld device with two screens. The upper screen shows record categories and record details. The lower screen is a typed terminal: click it and type commands such as HELP, CREATURES, OPEN followed by a record ID, BACK, HOME, or POWER OFF. Illustrated controls around the screens do the same things: a power button at the lower left of the upper body, four orange category and menu buttons above the upper screen, two round side buttons for previous and next, and a jog wheel on the right edge for scrolling through records. The device starts powered off; press the power button to begin.