Comments on: Does Touch Make Sense on the PC Platform? http://www.displaysearchblog.com/2009/05/does-touch-make-sense-on-the-pc-platform/ The Official Blog of DisplaySearch, an NPD Group Company Fri, 10 Feb 2012 04:26:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Conrad H. Blickenstorfer http://www.displaysearchblog.com/2009/05/does-touch-make-sense-on-the-pc-platform/comment-page-1/#comment-1219 Conrad H. Blickenstorfer Tue, 12 May 2009 16:09:09 +0000 http://www.displaysearchblog.com/?p=544#comment-1219 Whether or not touch makes sense or becomes popular depends a lot on the implementation. We considered large-scale deployment of HP touch PCs back in the mid to late 1980s (it was not the 150 of the early 1980s; they had some other consumer-oriented touch systems after that), but the screen smudging alone turned people off, and they also felt lifting their arms to touch a vertically oriented desktop display was disruptive and cumbersome. I adore my iMac24 all-in-one and iPhone-smooth touch might be welcome, but it would not work if I had to lift my arm above my head every time I wanted to move a window or scale a picture. Most adept computer users need less than a square inch to whip the cursor all over a big screen; doing the same with an outstretched arm on a 24-inch display would be very tiresome. Touch, however, might work great on a tablet and perhaps even notebooks. The vision behind all this, of course, is not new and goes back to way before Gates re-introduced the Tablet PC in 2001. In 1991, Greg Slyngstand, who was then GM of Microsoft's Pen Computing Group (which, in turn, was formed in response to earlier efforts by Apple, Go, GRiD and others), said., "The impact of pens on computing will be far greater than the mouse. The two key benefits—extreme portability and ease of use—will enable tiny, low-cost PCs that will appeal to a broader spectrum of users than ever before. Imagine “smart paper” that can do everything paper can as well as recognize objects, do calculations, neatly organize, duplicate and transmit itself.” It's almost 20 years later and that vision never really worked out, but that's primarily because the technology just wasn't there yet. It still isn't, but recent developments have offered glimpses of a future that might be. The incredible smoothness of the iPhone has suddenly lit the imagination and there's now a rush to scale the experience onto larger platforms and the desktop. So the question really is whether this scaling is possible and feasible. Whether or not touch makes sense or becomes popular depends a lot on the implementation. We considered large-scale deployment of HP touch PCs back in the mid to late 1980s (it was not the 150 of the early 1980s; they had some other consumer-oriented touch systems after that), but the screen smudging alone turned people off, and they also felt lifting their arms to touch a vertically oriented desktop display was disruptive and cumbersome. I adore my iMac24 all-in-one and iPhone-smooth touch might be welcome, but it would not work if I had to lift my arm above my head every time I wanted to move a window or scale a picture. Most adept computer users need less than a square inch to whip the cursor all over a big screen; doing the same with an outstretched arm on a 24-inch display would be very tiresome. Touch, however, might work great on a tablet and perhaps even notebooks.

The vision behind all this, of course, is not new and goes back to way before Gates re-introduced the Tablet PC in 2001. In 1991, Greg Slyngstand, who was then GM of Microsoft’s Pen Computing Group (which, in turn, was formed in response to earlier efforts by Apple, Go, GRiD and others), said., “The impact of pens on computing will be far greater than the mouse. The two key benefits—extreme portability and ease of use—will enable tiny, low-cost PCs that will appeal to a broader spectrum of users than ever before. Imagine “smart paper” that can do everything paper can as well as recognize objects, do calculations, neatly organize, duplicate and transmit itself.”

It’s almost 20 years later and that vision never really worked out, but that’s primarily because the technology just wasn’t there yet. It still isn’t, but recent developments have offered glimpses of a future that might be. The incredible smoothness of the iPhone has suddenly lit the imagination and there’s now a rush to scale the experience onto larger platforms and the desktop. So the question really is whether this scaling is possible and feasible.

]]> By: Touch Screen Usability « Touchscreen Blog http://www.displaysearchblog.com/2009/05/does-touch-make-sense-on-the-pc-platform/comment-page-1/#comment-1214 Touch Screen Usability « Touchscreen Blog Thu, 07 May 2009 20:12:25 +0000 http://www.displaysearchblog.com/?p=544#comment-1214 [...] Fender commenting on the blog DisplaySearch makes an interesting point. In order for touch to be effective at the desktop level, the design and [...] [...] Fender commenting on the blog DisplaySearch makes an interesting point. In order for touch to be effective at the desktop level, the design and [...]

]]> By: Garrick Infanger http://www.displaysearchblog.com/2009/05/does-touch-make-sense-on-the-pc-platform/comment-page-1/#comment-1213 Garrick Infanger Thu, 07 May 2009 17:01:30 +0000 http://www.displaysearchblog.com/?p=544#comment-1213 I agree with the first comment by Todd Fender that ergonomically much needs to change before touch is utilized in desktop/laptop use. The other major challenge is dealing with my 'fat fingers'. The mouse cursor is so precise and effortless to operate while my finger and hand obscures the screen and often mis-pokes. Perhaps the products will evolve or the OS will adapt, but in our current environment touch seems better suited for AIO devices, kiosks, and mobile devices. I agree with the first comment by Todd Fender that ergonomically much needs to change before touch is utilized in desktop/laptop use. The other major challenge is dealing with my ‘fat fingers’. The mouse cursor is so precise and effortless to operate while my finger and hand obscures the screen and often mis-pokes.

Perhaps the products will evolve or the OS will adapt, but in our current environment touch seems better suited for AIO devices, kiosks, and mobile devices.

]]> By: Todd Fender http://www.displaysearchblog.com/2009/05/does-touch-make-sense-on-the-pc-platform/comment-page-1/#comment-1212 Todd Fender Thu, 07 May 2009 14:14:22 +0000 http://www.displaysearchblog.com/?p=544#comment-1212 The opinion of another 40+ year old... In order for touch to be effective at the desktop level, the design and architecture of the desktop, as we know it today, would have to change drastically. Touch, at face level, for example when interacting with a large screen display used for wayfinding, works well for short periods of time (1-3 minutes) Touch, at levels below the face, may work well for longer periods of time - but mainly for short spurts of time. At the desktop level, many users interface with their environment, sometimes for hours at a time. If the desktop design remained as it is today, ergonomically speaking, it would be a nightmare. Although, office workers may find themselves with less arm flab after several weeks of lifting their arms to touch their screens, I'm fairly certain that the European community will cry foul and ammend TCO '06 ergonomic standards very rapidly. However, if Nintendo entered the office desktop space with an Office Wii Fit console, maybe touch would work. The opinion of another 40+ year old…

In order for touch to be effective at the desktop level, the design and architecture of the desktop, as we know it today, would have to change drastically.

Touch, at face level, for example when interacting with a large screen display used for wayfinding, works well for short periods of time (1-3 minutes)

Touch, at levels below the face, may work well for longer periods of time – but mainly for short spurts of time.

At the desktop level, many users interface with their environment, sometimes for hours at a time. If the desktop design remained as it is today, ergonomically speaking, it would be a nightmare.

Although, office workers may find themselves with less arm flab after several weeks of lifting their arms to touch their screens, I’m fairly certain that the European community will cry foul and ammend TCO ’06 ergonomic standards very rapidly.

However, if Nintendo entered the office desktop space with an Office Wii Fit console, maybe touch would work.

]]> By: Touch User Interface http://www.displaysearchblog.com/2009/05/does-touch-make-sense-on-the-pc-platform/comment-page-1/#comment-1210 Touch User Interface Thu, 07 May 2009 04:10:49 +0000 http://www.displaysearchblog.com/?p=544#comment-1210 <strong>Does Touch Make Sense on the PC Platform?...</strong> I came across a good question about the touch user interface for PCs at DisplaySearch Blog: Does Touch Make Sense on the PC Platform?... Does Touch Make Sense on the PC Platform?…

I came across a good question about the touch user interface for PCs at DisplaySearch Blog: Does Touch Make Sense on the PC Platform?…

]]> By: Does Touch Make Sense on the PC Platform? | DisplaySearch Blog http://www.displaysearchblog.com/2009/05/does-touch-make-sense-on-the-pc-platform/comment-page-1/#comment-1208 Does Touch Make Sense on the PC Platform? | DisplaySearch Blog Thu, 07 May 2009 01:43:11 +0000 http://www.displaysearchblog.com/?p=544#comment-1208 [...] more: Does Touch Make Sense on the PC Platform? | DisplaySearch Blog Tags: after-being, couch, file-cabinet, firm-meeting, opinion, packages, squeaky, the-display, [...] [...] more: Does Touch Make Sense on the PC Platform? | DisplaySearch Blog Tags: after-being, couch, file-cabinet, firm-meeting, opinion, packages, squeaky, the-display, [...]

]]>