OK. A couple of points. 1. Mac OS X is already touch enabled, and Apple actually ship touch input devices with most of their computers. The Magic Trackpad.
Oh, but it's not the same? Why not? The significant difference between using the trackpad and touching the screen directly is that you can better see what you're tapping on without your own fat fingers* in the way. And you can have the screen at the optimal position for reading (so your head is upright and your neck straight) while your arms are in a much better position for working. (Also, wiping a piece of crud off the screen doesn't then register as input.)
2. The touch screen interface on Phones and Tablets isn't there because it's inherently better, it's there because it makes better use of restricted space in a portable device. If your device is mostly on your desk, then there isn't really an advantage to a touch screen for most users. And for the people with specific needs and/or programs where it is an advantage, then Wacom make quite a nice display tablet that all the best comics artists use.
* I realise not everyone's fingers are fat. The point is mine are, and it makes it harder for me to select and drag the object I want to manipulate on my iPad or iPhone. With the trackpad, it almost always exactly picks up what the cursor is pointing at, as opposed to the thing next to what my finger is pointing at.
It all sounds very familiar, and goes back to the early 1980's, when they were saying the same things.
Oh, yes, of course, this is different, a mouse and keyboard really are useful. Yeah, yeah. Nothing new here..
I don't think anyone criticised the inclusion of a keyboard on the early Macintosh computers...
The mouse, sure, they criticised that. And they look foolish in hindsight. But the mouse was (for most people) a new way of interacting with the computer, while my point would be that a touch screen and a mouse input are, in the context of the OS, roughly equivalent. Now, touch does have a number of advantages over just a mouse. It really comes down to whether using a trackpad or touching the screen directly is better from an ergonomic point of view. My point, as laid out above, is that the trackpad is more versatile than directly touching the screen.
Laptops will no longer exist in the form that we know them a long long time before touch screen laptops ever become popular. Todays Laptop/Desktop software would need to be completely rewritten (UI wise) to ever make it popular on a touch screen. A big investment that no one is willing to make until touch Laptops/Desktops with touch screens become popular. The reflex that many of us have of reaching out to a laptop screen just shows how futile the state of existing software is as it doesn't respond to you. Touch and gesture interaction with our main software apps will probably happen someday but only imho at the boundary of a new device paradigm that pushes developers to make the investment in the software.
Your understanding is incorrect. It's true that there will always be people who can't get newer things. After all, when the mouse and pull down me he's first came out, and everyone was using two and three key commands to do everything, it was said that a mouse and drop down me yes were fine for newbees, but for serious work, it wasn't any good because you had to remove your hand from the keyboard.
ALL laptops screens will be touch enabled at some point. Those who do not think so will be proven as wrong as when they quote Steve Jobs about tablet size and phone size. Younger generations have come to expect it. I have come to expect it.
Gloat when it actually happens. Until then, you have not been proven correct. I do however think your prediction about younger generations is true, except that they have come to expect touchscreens on iPads (and iPad clones), not laptops.
The truth is that I'm so used to my iPad, that sometimes when I'm standing next to someone, and have to show them something, I teach out to the screen before I realize that it's not touch. The option would be great, as long as it's not the only thing available.
I'd be willing to pay an extra $500, or so, for that.
This is why it is ergonomically terrible. When you are standing, you can easily lean across and touch the screen without having to raise your arm up, however if you are sitting, you have to reach up and over to get to the higher parts of the screen. Especially if it is raised up a bit. I have a slight shoulder problem and there is no way I could ever work with a touch screen where I'd have to keep moving my hands up and away from the keyboard area.
My question is, if you are actually sitting in front of a computer rather than standing, then how often do you reach out to the screen?
"Windows 8 has not convinced end users to pay the premium for touch screen use."
That doesn't necessarily mean users don't want touchscreen computers. It may just mean users don't want computers with Windows 8. Given what a huge difference in user interface Windows 8 imposes, that wouldn't be a crazy conclusion.
I don't rest my hands on my keyboard all day long. I don' slide a mouse around all day long. I don't twist the jog/shuttle controller all day long. I do some of each. Integrating a few pokes at the screen in there wouldn't be all that daunting.
Touch may not be practical as the ONLY source of input to a more traditional computer, but it might be a perfectly nutritious part of this complete breakfast.
I don't think anyone criticised the inclusion of a keyboard on the early Macintosh computers...
The mouse, sure, they criticised that. And they look foolish in hindsight. But the mouse was (for most people) a new way of interacting with the computer, while my point would be that a touch screen and a mouse input are, in the context of the OS, roughly equivalent. Now, touch does have a number of advantages over just a mouse. It really comes down to whether using a trackpad or touching the screen directly is better from an ergonomic point of view. My point, as laid out above, is that the trackpad is more versatile than directly touching the screen.
We usually talk about a keyboard and mouse. As in previous posts I was talking about the inclusion of the mouse. That's what it means. Here, we're talking about the keyboard and mouse vs. touch. I'm trying to say that we can use all three.
The trackpad is good too, though I don't use them. I don't use a mouse either, as I prefer a trackball.
This is why it is ergonomically terrible. When you are standing, you can easily lean across and touch the screen without having to raise your arm up, however if you are sitting, you have to reach up and over to get to the higher parts of the screen. Especially if it is raised up a bit. I have a slight shoulder problem and there is no way I could ever work with a touch screen where I'd have to keep moving my hands up and away from the keyboard area.
My question is, if you are actually sitting in front of a computer rather than standing, then how often do you reach out to the screen?
Sometimes. But as I'm so used to the mouse and keyboard when sitting, I don't do it as often. It happens with my Macbook Pro more often than with my Mac Pro.
ALL laptops screens will be touch enabled at some point. Those who do not think so will be proven as wrong as when they quote Steve Jobs about tablet size and phone size. Younger generations have come to expect it. I have come to expect it.
Comments
1. Mac OS X is already touch enabled, and Apple actually ship touch input devices with most of their computers. The Magic Trackpad.
Oh, but it's not the same? Why not? The significant difference between using the trackpad and touching the screen directly is that you can better see what you're tapping on without your own fat fingers* in the way. And you can have the screen at the optimal position for reading (so your head is upright and your neck straight) while your arms are in a much better position for working. (Also, wiping a piece of crud off the screen doesn't then register as input.)
2. The touch screen interface on Phones and Tablets isn't there because it's inherently better, it's there because it makes better use of restricted space in a portable device. If your device is mostly on your desk, then there isn't really an advantage to a touch screen for most users. And for the people with specific needs and/or programs where it is an advantage, then Wacom make quite a nice display tablet that all the best comics artists use.
* I realise not everyone's fingers are fat. The point is mine are, and it makes it harder for me to select and drag the object I want to manipulate on my iPad or iPhone. With the trackpad, it almost always exactly picks up what the cursor is pointing at, as opposed to the thing next to what my finger is pointing at.
The mouse, sure, they criticised that. And they look foolish in hindsight. But the mouse was (for most people) a new way of interacting with the computer, while my point would be that a touch screen and a mouse input are, in the context of the OS, roughly equivalent. Now, touch does have a number of advantages over just a mouse. It really comes down to whether using a trackpad or touching the screen directly is better from an ergonomic point of view. My point, as laid out above, is that the trackpad is more versatile than directly touching the screen.
Laptops will no longer exist in the form that we know them a long long time before touch screen laptops ever become popular. Todays Laptop/Desktop software would need to be completely rewritten (UI wise) to ever make it popular on a touch screen. A big investment that no one is willing to make until touch Laptops/Desktops with touch screens become popular. The reflex that many of us have of reaching out to a laptop screen just shows how futile the state of existing software is as it doesn't respond to you. Touch and gesture interaction with our main software apps will probably happen someday but only imho at the boundary of a new device paradigm that pushes developers to make the investment in the software.
Not this guy.
Gloat when it actually happens. Until then, you have not been proven correct. I do however think your prediction about younger generations is true, except that they have come to expect touchscreens on iPads (and iPad clones), not laptops.
The truth is that I'm so used to my iPad, that sometimes when I'm standing next to someone, and have to show them something, I teach out to the screen before I realize that it's not touch. The option would be great, as long as it's not the only thing available.
I'd be willing to pay an extra $500, or so, for that.
This is why it is ergonomically terrible. When you are standing, you can easily lean across and touch the screen without having to raise your arm up, however if you are sitting, you have to reach up and over to get to the higher parts of the screen. Especially if it is raised up a bit. I have a slight shoulder problem and there is no way I could ever work with a touch screen where I'd have to keep moving my hands up and away from the keyboard area.
My question is, if you are actually sitting in front of a computer rather than standing, then how often do you reach out to the screen?
"Windows 8 has not convinced end users to pay the premium for touch screen use."
That doesn't necessarily mean users don't want touchscreen computers. It may just mean users don't want computers with Windows 8. Given what a huge difference in user interface Windows 8 imposes, that wouldn't be a crazy conclusion.
I don't rest my hands on my keyboard all day long. I don' slide a mouse around all day long. I don't twist the jog/shuttle controller all day long. I do some of each. Integrating a few pokes at the screen in there wouldn't be all that daunting.
Touch may not be practical as the ONLY source of input to a more traditional computer, but it might be a perfectly nutritious part of this complete breakfast.
We usually talk about a keyboard and mouse. As in previous posts I was talking about the inclusion of the mouse. That's what it means. Here, we're talking about the keyboard and mouse vs. touch. I'm trying to say that we can use all three.
The trackpad is good too, though I don't use them. I don't use a mouse either, as I prefer a trackball.
Sometimes. But as I'm so used to the mouse and keyboard when sitting, I don't do it as often. It happens with my Macbook Pro more often than with my Mac Pro.
ALL laptops screens will be touch enabled at some point. Those who do not think so will be proven as wrong as when they quote Steve Jobs about tablet size and phone size. Younger generations have come to expect it. I have come to expect it.
All horses will be faster at some point.