Next step in user interface hardware
Apple seems to be breaking new ground in user interface hardware lately:
1) iPhone multi-touch screen.
2) Slimmer keyboards.
3) Backlit keyboards.
4) Multi-touch trackpad.
5) Enhanced multi-touch trackpad.
I'm wondering if Apple's gearing up for a total paradigm shift in user interfaces, and I'm wondering what the next step is.
Right now, the separation and navigation and typing on desktops and laptops is awkward.
For instance, in order to use the mouse, I need to move my hand away from the keyboard. As a software developer, I use an excessive number of keyboard shortcuts to get around the Eclipse IDE, just so I can keep my hands on the keyboard and save the time it takes to move my hand to the mouse. Also, there are the ergonomic considerations to constantly moving one's hand back and forth from the mouse.
On the other hand, the laptop trackpad has other problems, notably, a lack of real estate in the trackpad takes away from the precision of navigating with a mouse. The trackpad also takes real estate away from the keyboard, which is smaller and more awkward to use than a full-size keyboard.
Also, the physical keyboard is pretty much set in stone. Irrespective of whether you're using the English QWERTY keyboard, French Canadian keyboard, DVORAK, or playing games, you're stuck with the same keys.
Although I'm wrong far more often than not, I simply love to speculate. Here's what I think Apple is working on with their touch screen technology.
So here's what I think the next step is:
A multi-touch LCD keyboard/trackpad that seamlessly switches between pointer interface and keyboard depending either on user input or context (ex you're using a word processor). The pointer area could even shrink and grow accordingly. The keyboard would display the keys corresponding to the software keyboard (ex DVORAK).
The technology exists to do this right now. The only remaining step seems to be designing the device according to usability issues. This is not a trivial step by any means, but it's not insurmountable.
What do you think?
1) iPhone multi-touch screen.
2) Slimmer keyboards.
3) Backlit keyboards.
4) Multi-touch trackpad.
5) Enhanced multi-touch trackpad.
I'm wondering if Apple's gearing up for a total paradigm shift in user interfaces, and I'm wondering what the next step is.
Right now, the separation and navigation and typing on desktops and laptops is awkward.
For instance, in order to use the mouse, I need to move my hand away from the keyboard. As a software developer, I use an excessive number of keyboard shortcuts to get around the Eclipse IDE, just so I can keep my hands on the keyboard and save the time it takes to move my hand to the mouse. Also, there are the ergonomic considerations to constantly moving one's hand back and forth from the mouse.
On the other hand, the laptop trackpad has other problems, notably, a lack of real estate in the trackpad takes away from the precision of navigating with a mouse. The trackpad also takes real estate away from the keyboard, which is smaller and more awkward to use than a full-size keyboard.
Also, the physical keyboard is pretty much set in stone. Irrespective of whether you're using the English QWERTY keyboard, French Canadian keyboard, DVORAK, or playing games, you're stuck with the same keys.
Although I'm wrong far more often than not, I simply love to speculate. Here's what I think Apple is working on with their touch screen technology.
So here's what I think the next step is:
A multi-touch LCD keyboard/trackpad that seamlessly switches between pointer interface and keyboard depending either on user input or context (ex you're using a word processor). The pointer area could even shrink and grow accordingly. The keyboard would display the keys corresponding to the software keyboard (ex DVORAK).
The technology exists to do this right now. The only remaining step seems to be designing the device according to usability issues. This is not a trivial step by any means, but it's not insurmountable.
What do you think?
Comments
Apple seems to be breaking new ground in user interface hardware lately:
1) iPhone multi-touch screen.
2) Slimmer keyboards.
3) Backlit keyboards.
4) Multi-touch trackpad.
5) Enhanced multi-touch trackpad.
I think that only one of the things you've listed is ground breaking (the iPhone). The current style Apple is using for keyboards was first done by Sony. Backlit keyboards have been around for a LONG time. I had one back in the early part of the decade for gaming. long before Apple did it. Track pad gestures aren't new either. Windows PCs have had extensive driver support to do gestures and other features for nearly a decade. Only the way Apple is using them is different.