Wednesday 14 April 2010

Transition to touch screens

Touch screens will change things in computing, but not before a confusing and weird transition period. I am of the opinion that touch screens will succeed only if they are flat on the table, but for now we have touch screens sitting upright like traditional monitors. A touch screen that lies down, or a two-monitor system with touch on the table and a stand-up monitor too, will feel more natural once touch is more at home in people's homes.

One thing that will be interesting is adaptive, personalised, touch screen keyboards. Depending on who is sitting at the machine, a touch screen can simulate a keyboard that is perfectly tailored not only to your individual typing style, but to your hands as well. It should be almost perfectly ergonomic that way. Keys can change size depending on how often you mis-strike them, and you can move them around to make them easier to find.

Mokalus of Borg

PS - For hunt-and-peck typists, this would be a major blessing.
PPS - My guess is nobody's done it yet because there's not enough room on current touch devices.

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