-----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Paul Ramsey Sent: Monday, June 25, 2007 10:12 AM Paul wrote: " They've re-invented the mouse, only it is way more expensive, and just slightly more ergonomic (once you've learned the gestural syntax)."
That's probably true. (I wonder what will happen when you flip off your table top? Will you get the blue screen of death?) :] Paul wrote: "There's perhaps a few niche uses that are going to find this hugely helpful, both in terms of the large format and the somewhat cleaner interface to the data, but I don't see a revolution necessarily in the offing." I think the potential for map navigation is pretty cool. I was especially intrigued by the navigation of the globe that I saw in the Popular Mechanics Video. I can't tell you how many times I have to print 30 24" X 36" color sheets for an emergency meeting. It be great if my boss could just pull up a digital map in the conference room table or wall and take it for a spin with the touch of his hand. But, like you said, this is a niche market, not a mass market. Perhaps the real potential in this idea is the integration of computers into everyday objects with a flat surface. Once you remove the need for a mouse and keyboard you can start putting computers in some pretty interesting places. Just a thought... I'm curious how Linux will keep up and/or adapt to this. It seems like it would require a pretty major overhaul and/or extension of the X Windowing system. I don't know if that will be possible if it is a system Microsoft is developing. Could we get into a situation where Linux is excluded because of proprietary hardware like it is with some graphics cards? I also wonder if we'll ever see support for that type of interface in Swing/SWT. It is interesting to consider modeling user interface events generated from multiple screen interactions. You might have events like "DoubleInputPush" or "DoubleInputClick". The Sunburned Surveyor To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [Geowanking] Surface Computing - Is this the Future? http://www.perceptivepixel.com/ Here's another company on that train. Watching the demo a few times makes be pretty negative. It is the same thing over and over and over again, with different subjects. - Zoom in - Zoom out - Rotate - Move They've re-invented the mouse, only it is way more expensive, and just slightly more ergonomic (once you've learned the gestural syntax). One thing you see very little of is... words. The things we spend 95% of our time working with on our computers. There's perhaps a few niche uses that are going to find this hugely helpful, both in terms of the large format and the somewhat cleaner interface to the data, but I don't see a revolution necessarily in the offing. P. Bill Thoen wrote: > This looks like it could be some pretty cool technology: > http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid932579976?bclid=93255305 0&bctid=933742930 > > > It's a preview and demo of Micorsoft's "Surface Computing" interface and > it looks like it's step in the right direction. Of course, they don't > talk about how accessible the interface will be, but the concept looks > good to me! > > The only thing better would be a 3D holographic interface, but I imagine > that's coming too someday soon. > _______________________________________________ > Geowanking mailing list > [email protected] > http://lists.burri.to/mailman/listinfo/geowanking -- Paul Ramsey Refractions Research http://www.refractions.net [EMAIL PROTECTED] Phone: 250-383-3022 Cell: 250-885-0632 _______________________________________________ Geowanking mailing list [email protected] http://lists.burri.to/mailman/listinfo/geowanking Warning: Information provided via electronic media is not guaranteed against defects including translation and transmission errors. If the reader is not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this information in error, please notify the sender immediately. _______________________________________________ Geowanking mailing list [email protected] http://lists.burri.to/mailman/listinfo/geowanking
