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This is all a little bit out there for me, but Gelernter is a great mind. I still think Linda will take over the world. The most interesting part of this, for
by pashields 17y ago
This is all a little bit out there for me, but Gelernter is a great mind. I still think Linda will take over the world. The most interesting part of this, for me, was this quote: "The computer mouse was a brilliant invention, but we can see today that it is a bad design. Like any device that must be moved and placed precisely, it ought to provide tactile feedback; it doesn't." It's only funny as hype builds for the ipad and mobile internet devices, almost all based on touch screens. Even before that, trackpads and membrane keyboards were all slow and steady movements away from strong tactile feedback. The "minority report" interface that people love so much is even further along, there is no contact at all.
None of this is to say Gelernter is wrong, but, if he is right, I wonder when we will see the movement towards increased and/or more intelligent tactile feedback.
- jcromartie 17y agoAt least touch interfaces remove a level of abstraction that currently exists between moving a mouse on a desk and moving a pointer on the screen. A touch screen with tactile feedback (the iPhone already has vibration... more apps should make use of this) would be nearly ideal.
- stcredzero 17y agoPrediction: Touch interfaces will comprise the new end-user interface vocabulary. As happened with mouse/keyboard/overlapping windows, a de-facto standard set of UI conventions will be established as a new mainstream. Apple will be a trailblazer of this with the iPad. They will be too greedy with their IP and their closed corporate policies will drive the creation of a different but similar standard that they do not directly control. Hopefully, it won't be Microsoft that jumps in and does it this time.
- eru 17y agoInteresting. Could you put any money, some odds and a timeline on your prediction?