(Do we really need the F keys)

I use F keys rather a bit, actually.

The hover cars will come into play later on.

Still, later!? I want it now!

And what of tactile feedback that everyone views as being so important? And what of usability for the disabled?

Completely agree. It’s unfair for me to simply say “we won’t be double clicking” when I’m not presenting any serious alternatives, rather than pure conjecture. Tactile feedback and especially usability for the disabled are issues that need fixing, with regards to all the new touch screen stuff. Maybe a redesigned keyboard? (Do we really need the F keys)

And a pen, when it comes to filling in a spreadsheet, seems a completely poor idea.

Haha, right on.

Why would it be a rectangle? A lasso would make more sense wouldn?t it?

Ooh yeah, especially if you’re using a pen!

I?m sure that will happen. Just not as quick as you?d like.

I think you overestimate the usefulness of voice commands :)

I don’t want to go completely on the defensive on this: I was actually “only” saying that we won’t be double-clicking in 5 years. The hover cars will come into play later on.

more direct and more ‘physical’ than a traditional GUI

And what of tactile feedback that everyone views as being so important? And what of usability for the disabled? While there may be great movements ahead for the fully sensed what about the blind? Text to speech is still a long way from being perfect and correct every time.

There are touch screen ATMs now that have braille instructions that read “Ask someone for help”. And yes, I think for this to become commonplace it has to work for everyone.

[the mouse] when it comes to painting / drawing it just doesn’t work.

And a pen, when it comes to filling in a spreadsheet, seems a completely poor idea.

the selection rectangle doesn’t require any double click

Why would it be a rectangle? A lasso would make more sense wouldn’t it?

So we agree, just not on the timeframe of 5 years?

I agree that the interface will change. I agree that eventually when I want to enter a ton of data into a spreadsheet all I’ll need do is hold the form containing the handwritten data up to the computer’s eye. I agree eventually I’ll be able to reliably walk into a room and say, “Computer, lights, Brahms.. No.. Beethoven, the more softer stuff, read my mail, stow the dishes, put the Newer York Times on the display in the den, I’d like to read today. Tea, Earl Grey hot”

I’m sure that will happen. Just not as quick as you’d like.

Or some variation of that. But if you want to bring in some sort of ?select several to delete? you?ve got to work some new menu and dig through another interface to do that.

Really good point.

However un-intuitive in itself, the selection rectangle doesn’t require any double click, as such on could still keep that in a single click setup.

Contacts -> Joen -> Call/Edit/Delete

Or some variation of that. But if you want to bring in some sort of “select several to delete” you’ve got to work some new menu and dig through another interface to do that.

Personally, for touch systems you can lose the double-tap to activate because it doesn’t make much sense when you can finally do gesture recognition. However, I’ll hold on to my distinctive difference between selection and activation for more complicated interfaces like the windows ui.

I?d contend that the whole idea behind these types of innovations is that they?re more direct and more ?physical? than a traditional GUI, and results in greater usability benefits because of that.

I agree. We all have intuitive ways of doing tasks. The mouse might feel intuitive today because that’s what we’ve learned to use.

I’d contend that the whole idea behind these types of innovations is that they’re more direct and more ‘physical’ than a traditional GUI, and results in greater usability benefits because of that.

I believe that the Microsoft surface example of grabbing an image to rotate and zoom is far more intuitive than what you could achieve with a mouse & buttons.

I think products like the iPhone will start a revolution in UI design. That’s my bet.

Expecting the world to switch from a barely mastered mouse to Minority Report hand/finger movements is asking a great deal.

So we agree, just not on the timeframe of 5 years?

Do you see yourself working behind a traditional computer setup in 5 years? I don’t. When you think about it, it’s not really that practical. Keyboard, mouse, screen, pen possibly?

It?s easy to see a few million people using and mastering the iPhone interface but the ?big ass table? will take a bit more time.

How about the Wacom Cintiq ?

Lastly there?s something to be said for an interface that doesn?t need improvement. I?m not saying keyboard and mouse are perfect but they?re damn near. We run the risk of inventing new interfaces for everything that are only needed for a single new problem.

I disagree. The mouse chains you to a desk, it needs a flat surface that’s ideally not too reflective. It requires the same repeated movements of your arm, causing RSI, and when it comes to painting / drawing it just doesn’t work. The mouse is only good for precision movement.

Check your footnotes. There?s a footnote with no reference.

Thanks. Fixed.

These things will come with time, of course. But, it will take a lot of time. It’s easy to see a few million people using and mastering the iPhone interface but the “big ass table” will take a bit more time.

Lastly there’s something to be said for an interface that doesn’t need improvement. I’m not saying keyboard and mouse are perfect but they’re damn near. We run the risk of inventing new interfaces for everything that are only needed for a single new problem.

This is all becoming rather jumbled and the phone just rang so.. I’ll pester you via IM later.

Check your footnotes. There’s a footnote with no reference.