Input methods

All timestamps are based on your local time of:

Posted by: stak
Posted on: 2008-01-05 09:46:14

Holy cow. Imagine if all the keys on the Optimus Maximus were a little bit closer. In fact, imagine them placed right next to each other with no space in between. Now imagine the keys didn't have the beveled edges and fit together so as to form a completely flat surface on top. What you'd have is a keyboard that can double as a display. Using the tops of the keys as parts of larger display (similar to how they used to have giant TV screens in malls made up of an array of lots of smaller TVs) would mean that a device could have a display *and* a full-size keyboard, all within the area of a full-size keyboard. Add a little multi-touch to the mix (probably a technical challenge, so unlikely to happen on the first iteration) and you have all the input/output devices you need crammed into a very small space.

If anybody can pull this off, it's Apple.

Posted by varun at 2008-01-06 00:08:56

The thing stopping me from getting an iPhone is precisely that lack of tactile feedback. That's why I tossed my last WinMo phone in the trash - because of the lack of tactile feedback. Without tactile feedback, it's nigh impossible to do anything without taking the device out and looking at it. It's no fun - whether you're in a hurry and don't want to drop the thing, or you're in the middle of winter and there's a stiff wind blowing, or whether you live in a seedier part of town.

In fact, lack of tactile feedback is an awful idea.

[ Reply to this ]

[ Add a new comment ]