Active Topics

 


Page 46 of 164 « First 364445 46 474856 Last »
Reply
Thread Tools
geneven is offline geneven
2008-04-22 , 14:06
Posts: 5,795 | Thanked: 3,151 times | Joined on Feb 2007 @ Agoura Hills Calif
#451
Not only numpty physics, but things like sketching or editing graphics would be difficult to use without a stylus. I haven't seen an international art movement devoted to fingerpainting yet. Also, just for editing, let's say you want to move a few words. The only decent replacement for a stylus would be a mouse. Sure, there are keyboard commands for that, but not everyone wants to learn vi.

Hey, how about a cursor directed by brainwaves! That's reasonable for the N900, isn't it?
 

The Following User Says Thank You to geneven For This Useful Post:
Benson's Avatar
Benson is offline Benson
2008-04-22 , 14:13
Posts: 4,930 | Thanked: 2,272 times | Joined on Oct 2007
#452
Well, with a sufficiently large font, and with the assumption that you only want to move whole words, fingers can work surprisingly well. If you want to move only some characters in a word, Shift + d-pad can help on a keyboard device, or manually backspacing the offending characters, and retyping them elsewhere.

However, I am rarely amused by programs that interpret a drag from somewhere in the middle of a word to include the whole word; I think in a character-based way when editing, and would rather make 3 attempts every time to select a string than to be completely unable to get some strings I want, even though it actually gets what I want 80% of the time.

Edit: Just a thought re: brainwaves: Why not an accelerometer-controlled cursor? Obviously not on all the time, but give us 4 buttons on the top edge; one enables accelerometer control of cursor, and the other three are mouse buttons 1, 2, and 3.

And since everyone likes kinetics in their scrolls, kinetics in their cursor (think rolling a marble around on the screen) should be cool, too, right?
Last edited by Benson; 2008-04-22 at 14:18.
 
GeneralAntilles's Avatar
GeneralAntilles is offline GeneralAntilles
2008-04-22 , 14:14
Posts: 5,478 | Thanked: 5,222 times | Joined on Jan 2006 @ St. Petersburg, FL
#453
Originally Posted by sjgadsby View Post
While a quick search failed to turn up the post, I recall that some time ago someone posted a suggestion that future tablets should contain a switch in the stylus silo. With the stylus is stored, the tablet works in its default, "fat finger" mode, but then shifts appropriately when the stylus comes out to play. This automatic transition would be in line with other magical, magnetical tricks the tablets perform.
/me shudders.

That sounds like about the worst solution to this problem that I can imagine. I frequently use the device with and without the stylus stowed, and it usually has little correlation to the input device (stylus, fingers or other) that I'm using at the moment. Besides, what about those people that lose their styluses?
 
Karel Jansens's Avatar
Karel Jansens is offline Karel Jansens
2008-04-22 , 14:24
Posts: 3,220 | Thanked: 326 times | Joined on Oct 2005 @ "Almost there!" (Monte Christo, Count of)
#454
Originally Posted by Texrat View Post
I'm just not that pessimistic. Throw me a challenge, I'll work out 3 or 4 good solid solutions. I've made a career out of solving "the impossible". I would hope that's the sort of folks we have in the tablet hardware and software development.
You have 'til june; july at the most.
__________________
Watch out Nokia, Pandora's box has opened (sorta)...
I do love explaining cryptic sigs, but for the impatient: http://www.openpandora.org/
 
Benson's Avatar
Benson is offline Benson
2008-04-22 , 14:26
Posts: 4,930 | Thanked: 2,272 times | Joined on Oct 2007
#455
Originally Posted by GeneralAntilles View Post
/me shudders.

That sounds like about the worst solution to this problem that I can imagine. I frequently use the device with and without the stylus stowed, and it usually has little correlation to the input device (stylus, fingers or other) that I'm using at the moment. Besides, what about those people that lose their styluses?
The real solution would be a combo screen, with capacitive multi-touch for finger usage, and one of
  • Special capacitive-sensable stylus, which could be detected reliably on the basis of contact area
  • Active (inductive, right?) stylus, like graphics tablets have
It'd add significantly to the cost, unfortunately, but it also might (I'm way too optimistic, I know...) allow a dual-ended stylus, with the point sending button 1, and the "eraser" end sending button 3. Gives us a nicer right-click solution, and enhances stuff like Xournal dramatically. Probably the odd wierd gaming interface use, too, but I'm always surprised with those.

For those who lose their stylii, well, Nokia would have to start making them available... But the bigger, clunkier, and more complex the stylus, the less likely they lose it.
 
Karel Jansens's Avatar
Karel Jansens is offline Karel Jansens
2008-04-22 , 14:34
Posts: 3,220 | Thanked: 326 times | Joined on Oct 2005 @ "Almost there!" (Monte Christo, Count of)
#456
Originally Posted by sjgadsby View Post
While a quick search failed to turn up the post, I recall that some time ago someone posted a suggestion that future tablets should contain a switch in the stylus silo. With the stylus is stored, the tablet works in its default, "fat finger" mode, but then shifts appropriately when the stylus comes out to play. This automatic transition would be in line with other magical, magnetical tricks the tablets perform.

Of course, there are downsides. This magic would only work on those theoretical future tablets that contain the switch. Applications would need to be coded specifically for the platform, with UIs for both modes. Unlikely, while we're still starved enough for software that we're often happy to get rough, un-Hildonized ports. And losing a stylus would cause even more frustration than it does now.
I hardly ever use the built-in stylus, mainly because it blisters my fingers. Are you suggesting I leave that one out then?

Furthermore, dual-mode UIs is how OpenMoko is going, and I'm not certain that's a good thing. I like the use of the pressure-sensitive screen to determine what's touching the screen and see refining that method as the best way to go.

There's no need to mandate developers code for both UIs: Some applications are made for finger, others for stylus and others for both. If the user doesn't like it, he doesn't install it. I e.g. don't like Canola, the ultimate finger app for the Itablet, so I don't install it.

That's what a true computer should be about: user choice. If you want to have choice taken away from you, get an Apple gizmo.

(And yes, even as a self-proclaimed Newton advocate, I do see the irony)
__________________
Watch out Nokia, Pandora's box has opened (sorta)...
I do love explaining cryptic sigs, but for the impatient: http://www.openpandora.org/
 

The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to Karel Jansens For This Useful Post:
sjgadsby is offline sjgadsby
2008-04-22 , 14:50
Posts: 5,335 | Thanked: 8,187 times | Joined on Mar 2007 @ Pennsylvania, USA
#457
Originally Posted by GeneralAntilles View Post
Besides, what about those people that lose their styluses?
I did mention that as a negative.

However, I've never lost a stylus for any device that came with one, going all the way back to my KoalaPad. I can only assume that those who lose their styluses never had Magic Slates as children, and therefore, missed out on learning the importance of always safely storing a stylus in the provided holder.

More seriously, I don't expect that my mentioning of this idea here will lead to Nokia actually implementing it in any future device. I mentioned it only as it provided a method of providing a dual-mode UI without relying upon the touchscreen for stylus/finger differentiation. I don't think your usage pattern is in any danger.
 

The Following User Says Thank You to sjgadsby For This Useful Post:
sjgadsby is offline sjgadsby
2008-04-22 , 14:54
Posts: 5,335 | Thanked: 8,187 times | Joined on Mar 2007 @ Pennsylvania, USA
#458
Originally Posted by Karel Jansens View Post
Are you suggesting I leave that one out then?
No, not really. A problem was brought up, and I mentioned an alternative solution I'd seen posted earlier, in another thread.

I'm going to back out of this thread now. It's not my kind of silly.
Last edited by sjgadsby; 2008-04-22 at 16:07. Reason: Missing preposition
 
debudebu is offline debudebu
2008-04-22 , 15:39
Posts: 143 | Thanked: 32 times | Joined on Apr 2007
#459
i would really like a device that is just one big screen that can be folded in half. the screen would be flexible enough to allow the use of buttons underneath it. in this way, the device itself could be a nearly full-size keyboard. i seem to remember i post about someone testing screen flexibility and including buttons under the screen of a 770. when a keyboard isn't needed, the sweet 8 inch wide screen could be used to watch widescreen movies etc, and when stored, it could be closed like a clamshell.
 
debudebu is offline debudebu
2008-04-22 , 16:03
Posts: 143 | Thanked: 32 times | Joined on Apr 2007
#460
ahh, it could also be folded backwards for vertical, one-handed use.
 
Reply
Page 46 of 164 « First 364445 46 474856 Last »

Tags
dpads are fun, ideas, n900, n900 wishlist, revenge of the styli, stuff for nokia to read, the wrath of sty, wishlist

« Previous Thread | Next Thread »

 
Forum Jump


All times are GMT. The time now is 02:25.

Contact Us - Home - Archive - Top