Paul wrote: " One thing you see very little of is... words. The things we spend 95% of our time working with on our computers."
We have some survey data collectors without a keypad of any kind. You input text data via a "virtual keypad" displayed on the screen. I'm sure the same thing would work with tabletop computing. I must admit I'm no fan of virtual keypads on the data collectors I use, and would rather have the rubber button. (It does save having to keep a keyboard clean, or wearing the paint of the keyboard keys. It also gives you an opportunity to dynamically use different keyboard configurations, which is not easy with physical keyboards. I guess you can mimic "virtual keypad" in software on the desktop right now, but you have to interact with the keys using the mouse, not your fingers.) The Sunburned Surveyor -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Paul Ramsey Sent: Monday, June 25, 2007 10:12 AM 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
