4 ms·

I'm sure we'll develop sensitive clothing, body feedback and other forms of haptic interfaces - a tap on the side of the glasses might not be necessary if you c

I'm sure we'll develop sensitive clothing, body feedback and other forms of haptic interfaces - a tap on the side of the glasses might not be necessary if you can train your AR to respond to say, snapping fingers or tapping feet.

vanderZwan 7y ago
The thing I hate about this trend is that we seem to love to forego a vital part of interfaces in the process: visibility. I don't know why designers seem to hate buttons, but it's really annoying. EDIT: where "visibility" also includes haptic feedback and all of that other good stuff. See http://worrydream.com/ABriefRantOnTheFutureOfInteractionDesign/ http://worrydream.com/ABriefRantOnTheFutureOfInteractionDesi...
- marcosdumay 7y ago
  Buttons are expensive and actually placing things on the real world carries a lot of inconveniences. The good news is that AR can add visibility to hidden interfaces too. The bad news is that nobody will bother.
  - wongarsu 7y ago
    It has to be more than that. A touch sensor might be cheaper than a button, but even Software UI distances itself from the button visual of the 90s and 00s, instead opting for icons with no discernible background or button association. Software UI design is very much imitating how a physical touch sensor interface looks. It seems to be the current trend, chasing a "clean" design above all else.
    - galangalalgol 7y ago
      I miss switches. Big metal toggle switches with labeled positions. These tiny hall effect buttons that barely give any feedback are the worst of both worlds. They have no visible status. The tactile element isn't much better than a touchscreen, and they break. Toggles!
- daveFNbuck 7y ago
  Buttons aren't visible if they're on the side of your head. I have headphones with about 5 buttons. I can often successfully use the volume and power ones if I locate them correctly, but there are another two next to those that I sometimes end up pressing instead.
  - bluGill 7y ago
    Buttons don't have to be visible. They can have different shapes that you can feel. Brail would be useful if people would learn it.
    - crooked-v 7y ago
      There are also non-button tactile controls, like the 'buttons' on the Airpods Pro that are actually just pressure-sensitive indents you squeeze.
      - germinalphrase 7y ago
        Which - as a Minnesotan - I find to be a frustrating interface when gloves are required. (somethingsomethingdesignedforcalifornia)
        asdff 7y ago
        You know it's cold when your bare finger no longer works on a touchscreen.
  - vanderZwan 7y ago
    I should have been more clear: those buttons are still "visible" in that they have a haptic interface. I have a headphone with "tap to play/pause, swipe to change songs or volume" - it's impossible to know without reading the manual or triggering one of these actions by accident. Which incidentally also happens a lot. That's bad interface design IMO. I guess the headphones look "cleaner" but it's really annoying in practice and not worth it.
  - 7y ago
- davidzweig 7y ago
  I don't hate buttons. Here, I'm making a small device with lots of buttons: https://photos.app.goo.gl/VpG8uGSzWzCskN2m7 https://photos.app.goo.gl/VpG8uGSzWzCskN2m7 Can you write C? Do with it what you like. I'll make a javascript framework that runs on a smartphone too. (Nordic Bluetooth LE chip, microphone, speaker, 12 RGB LEDs, gyro/accelerometer, battery that should last weeks). Internet connected walkie-talkie, translator, study languages (like this: https://forum.language-learners.org/viewtopic.php?t=8699 https://forum.language-learners.org/viewtopic.php?t=8699). I'll make more devices soon, and will sell them for $25. Send me an email, and I'll message when they are ready (mail in profile).
  - vanderZwan 7y ago
    Love it! Sadly, my self-insight has reached the level where I know I would buy it then never use it after tinkering for a few hours, so I'm afraid I have to pass on ordering one.. but I really like the concept!

vanderZwan 7y ago

The thing I hate about this trend is that we seem to love to forego a vital part of interfaces in the process: visibility. I don't know why designers seem to hate buttons, but it's really annoying. EDIT: where "visibility" also includes haptic feedback and all of that other good stuff. See http://worrydream.com/ABriefRantOnTheFutureOfInteractionDesign/ http://worrydream.com/ABriefRantOnTheFutureOfInteractionDesi...

marcosdumay 7y ago
Buttons are expensive and actually placing things on the real world carries a lot of inconveniences. The good news is that AR can add visibility to hidden interfaces too. The bad news is that nobody will bother.
- wongarsu 7y ago
  It has to be more than that. A touch sensor might be cheaper than a button, but even Software UI distances itself from the button visual of the 90s and 00s, instead opting for icons with no discernible background or button association. Software UI design is very much imitating how a physical touch sensor interface looks. It seems to be the current trend, chasing a "clean" design above all else.
  - galangalalgol 7y ago
    I miss switches. Big metal toggle switches with labeled positions. These tiny hall effect buttons that barely give any feedback are the worst of both worlds. They have no visible status. The tactile element isn't much better than a touchscreen, and they break. Toggles!
daveFNbuck 7y ago
Buttons aren't visible if they're on the side of your head. I have headphones with about 5 buttons. I can often successfully use the volume and power ones if I locate them correctly, but there are another two next to those that I sometimes end up pressing instead.
- bluGill 7y ago
  Buttons don't have to be visible. They can have different shapes that you can feel. Brail would be useful if people would learn it.
  - crooked-v 7y ago
    There are also non-button tactile controls, like the 'buttons' on the Airpods Pro that are actually just pressure-sensitive indents you squeeze.
    - germinalphrase 7y ago
      Which - as a Minnesotan - I find to be a frustrating interface when gloves are required. (somethingsomethingdesignedforcalifornia)
      - asdff 7y ago
        You know it's cold when your bare finger no longer works on a touchscreen.
- vanderZwan 7y ago
  I should have been more clear: those buttons are still "visible" in that they have a haptic interface. I have a headphone with "tap to play/pause, swipe to change songs or volume" - it's impossible to know without reading the manual or triggering one of these actions by accident. Which incidentally also happens a lot. That's bad interface design IMO. I guess the headphones look "cleaner" but it's really annoying in practice and not worth it.
- 7y ago
davidzweig 7y ago
I don't hate buttons. Here, I'm making a small device with lots of buttons: https://photos.app.goo.gl/VpG8uGSzWzCskN2m7 https://photos.app.goo.gl/VpG8uGSzWzCskN2m7 Can you write C? Do with it what you like. I'll make a javascript framework that runs on a smartphone too. (Nordic Bluetooth LE chip, microphone, speaker, 12 RGB LEDs, gyro/accelerometer, battery that should last weeks). Internet connected walkie-talkie, translator, study languages (like this: https://forum.language-learners.org/viewtopic.php?t=8699 https://forum.language-learners.org/viewtopic.php?t=8699). I'll make more devices soon, and will sell them for $25. Send me an email, and I'll message when they are ready (mail in profile).
- vanderZwan 7y ago
  Love it! Sadly, my self-insight has reached the level where I know I would buy it then never use it after tinkering for a few hours, so I'm afraid I have to pass on ordering one.. but I really like the concept!