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There is a difference between writing pages of text in one sitting and writing bits and pieces spread out. I was specifically responding to the use case of ente

by ugh 15y ago

There is a difference between writing pages of text in one sitting and writing bits and pieces spread out. I was specifically responding to the use case of entering that paragraph of text the parent mentioned. If there are situations where physicians have to type pages of text not spread out over the day but all at once they probably shouldn’t use a software keyboard.

famousactress 15y ago
I think this is something of a fallacy that we might tell ourselves (as developers). There's a friction quotient to mobile-text-entry. Let's just assume there's linear friction (for your argument to be benefited by non-linear friction typing on a mobile device would have to become more painful the longer we do it in a sitting, which I don't believe happens). So if the friction cost is say 30% for me to type on a mobile device compared to a traditional keyboard.. it's often worth the cost to me to achieve a given outcome. Especially if there's actually a net benefit to the mobile-ness. Inviting a friend to a party. Keyboard cost: 30 seconds. Mobile cost: 40 seconds. But say I'm out and about or in the car? Suddenly the benefit swings big time. In the same situation, say I need to write a long email. Keyboard cost: 30 minutes, Mobile cost: 40 minutes.. and suddenly the distance from my house may not be a factor. Now imagine I have about 20 of those emails to write today... I'm worried that the way we use our mobile devices (facebook, etc) can warp our perceptions of just how significant the friction for data entry is, and promote this idea that little-text is easy, long-text is still hard. I think that's wrong, by a lot. I think there's loads of innovation left to do in human-computer-interaction with touch screen and mobile devices and projects like Dr Chrono get me really excited because I think it plunges a team of smart devs headlong into a problem-space that in the long run, won't tolerate less than stellar friction quotients.

by ugh 15y ago

famousactress 15y ago

I think this is something of a fallacy that we might tell ourselves (as developers). There's a friction quotient to mobile-text-entry. Let's just assume there's linear friction (for your argument to be benefited by non-linear friction typing on a mobile device would have to become more painful the longer we do it in a sitting, which I don't believe happens). So if the friction cost is say 30% for me to type on a mobile device compared to a traditional keyboard.. it's often worth the cost to me to achieve a given outcome. Especially if there's actually a net benefit to the mobile-ness. Inviting a friend to a party. Keyboard cost: 30 seconds. Mobile cost: 40 seconds. But say I'm out and about or in the car? Suddenly the benefit swings big time. In the same situation, say I need to write a long email. Keyboard cost: 30 minutes, Mobile cost: 40 minutes.. and suddenly the distance from my house may not be a factor. Now imagine I have about 20 of those emails to write today... I'm worried that the way we use our mobile devices (facebook, etc) can warp our perceptions of just how significant the friction for data entry is, and promote this idea that little-text is easy, long-text is still hard. I think that's wrong, by a lot. I think there's loads of innovation left to do in human-computer-interaction with touch screen and mobile devices and projects like Dr Chrono get me really excited because I think it plunges a team of smart devs headlong into a problem-space that in the long run, won't tolerate less than stellar friction quotients.