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There’s only so much you can do with pointing and clicking on a flat screen. To me, part of the problem is that most non-mobile OS’s still haven’t embraced touc

There’s only so much you can do with pointing and clicking on a flat screen. To me, part of the problem is that most non-mobile OS’s still haven’t embraced touch as part of the UX. Hopefully, there’s more inroads with “spatial” computing too.

timw4mail 2y ago
What does touch have to do with making the visual interface worse?
gmueckl 2y ago
Conversely, there is only so much you can do with fat oily fingers on a screen. Finger input has poor precision. Also, you cannot expect a user to operate a vertical touch screen for many hours. Our human upper body isn't built for this. Vertical workstation screens will always require some indirect pointing input modality.
- Turing_Machine 2y ago
  > Also, you cannot expect a user to operate a vertical touch screen for many hours. Our human upper body isn't built for this Indeed. Back in the days when people thought light pens were cool[1], "gorilla arm" was a common term for the way your body felt after using one for a while. I doubt it matters much whether you're using a pen or your finger, in terms of the fatigue that develops. Ha! Just checked, and "gorilla arm" is still apparently in use. https://www.techopedia.com/definition/31480/gorilla-arm https://www.techopedia.com/definition/31480/gorilla-arm [1] Edit: Some say that what really killed off light pens was company lawyers freaking out over the idea of Junior using a pointy stick on a fragile glass CRT with vacuum inside. Definitely something that could go wrong in a big way.
- chaostheory 2y ago
  you’re right. I guess what I meant to say is that there’s only so many ways we can bang our head against the same wall. The wall being a flat screen. We’d probably have new solutions once we transition to a spatial interface.
rootusrootus 2y ago
No thanks on touch screens for desktop monitors. My monitor is right at the limits of my reach without leaning forward. Plus, I have enough problems keeping the screen clean as it is.

timw4mail 2y ago

What does touch have to do with making the visual interface worse?

gmueckl 2y ago

Conversely, there is only so much you can do with fat oily fingers on a screen. Finger input has poor precision. Also, you cannot expect a user to operate a vertical touch screen for many hours. Our human upper body isn't built for this. Vertical workstation screens will always require some indirect pointing input modality.

Turing_Machine 2y ago
> Also, you cannot expect a user to operate a vertical touch screen for many hours. Our human upper body isn't built for this Indeed. Back in the days when people thought light pens were cool[1], "gorilla arm" was a common term for the way your body felt after using one for a while. I doubt it matters much whether you're using a pen or your finger, in terms of the fatigue that develops. Ha! Just checked, and "gorilla arm" is still apparently in use. https://www.techopedia.com/definition/31480/gorilla-arm https://www.techopedia.com/definition/31480/gorilla-arm [1] Edit: Some say that what really killed off light pens was company lawyers freaking out over the idea of Junior using a pointy stick on a fragile glass CRT with vacuum inside. Definitely something that could go wrong in a big way.
chaostheory 2y ago
you’re right. I guess what I meant to say is that there’s only so many ways we can bang our head against the same wall. The wall being a flat screen. We’d probably have new solutions once we transition to a spatial interface.

rootusrootus 2y ago

No thanks on touch screens for desktop monitors. My monitor is right at the limits of my reach without leaning forward. Plus, I have enough problems keeping the screen clean as it is.