On 06/03/2008, Rob Myers <rob_at_robmyers.org> wrote:
>
>
> I spend all day with a keyboard and I find I don't notice it due to its
> familiarity. Now that I'm typing this I'm aware of every keypress, the
> feel and the sound and the different timing and hand movements for every
> letter. But usually it just fades out and I'm coding or emailing or
> writing a review and I don't notice the keyboard's physicality.
>
> Possibly I'm confusing noticeable physicality with tangibility. The
> keyboard, as you point out, is tangible. It's just people don't notice
> it.
Yes, I understand, but in subconscious usage it still benefits from being
tangible. I mentioned I like IBM ones and I've come to depend on the
touch-feedback of pressing keys. If I press two keys at the same time, by
accident I'll feel (and hear) two clicks, the same with three. So; at that
point I know for sure how many times I have to hit "backspace" without
checking the exact text on the screen. Through practice I don't consciously
notice this any more yet it's a clear benefit (to me) of a physical keyboard
over -say- a touch screen one. Another obvious one is the little bumps on
the home keys for touch typists.
The Reactable is a tangible interface that may or may not take advantage of
things like that to that degree (time will have to tell) and it's
predominantly (at the moment) a novel interface. I think and hope those are
separate things. This is why I reacted to your point; I feel the keyboard
(well, some of them) is relatively successful as a tangible interface, when
I have to hunt for the little "X" in the top right of the window I feel the
mouse is less so.
I'm not saying we need to jam spoons in between the keys unless it's
> useful to do so. One reason it might be useful to do so is to spread
> your awareness of the keyboard as tangible to people who don't notice it
> as such. But if you're happy with the familiarity of the keyboard then
> don't let me make things difficult. :-)
Yes, I see, and if you are implying one of the strengths on the Reactable is
having a fresh look at known module arrangements which could be stimulating
then I will agree with you.
Still, I also think that one of the marks of truly great interfaces for
every day usage is disappearing from concious thought. Here that annoying
syntax stuff that just has to complain about every little bracket and dot
while you are trying to compose a epic masterpiece would be a good thing to
get rid off even if there too "jamming spoons" might be stimulating for a
day or two.
(back on topic! )
> This is a time of consolidation for new media. It's a positive thing if
> alternative interfaces follow VR (for example) into the mainstream and
> actually succeed this time.
Oh, yes, especially VR which has already had most of it's "oh, look at
that!" phase out of the way. ChucKing a oscillator into a filter by drawing
a cute little arrow can't really be as satisfactory as as actually hurling
it. By that time we may need to re-orient ourselves about the names of
programming languages. chucking, colliding (and now near-missing!) would
lead to rather aggressive VR gestures, we may need more stroking or brushing
languages for safety's sake ;¬).
Cheers,
Kas.
Received on Thu Mar 06 2008 - 21:50:36 GMT