multi-touch screens [was: Re: [LINK] $100 laptop could sell to public]

[Jan Whitaker]

At 08:34 AM 16/01/2007, Ivan Trundle wrote:
>That's exactly why I thought it would be a real asset for vision- 
>impaired: current tactile input devices are not perfect, and
>generally inflexible in function (other than shift/control/option/alt
>derivatives).

Are you saying there is some tactile response within the screen? 
Looks like a flat piece of vinyl to me where the information is just 
the visual picture or keyboard. If you can't see them, you can't move them.

>Of course, a voice overlay or some other form of auditory feedback
>would be required to make multi-touch useful, but I see great
>potential here. The fact that you don't have to be precise with
>hitting the right button or key, but rather use gestures, is surely
>an improvement on multi-button devices (and nondescript in function
>unless you know where you're at on the keyboard).

Gestures of what? There has to be a feedback loop of some sort. At 
least with a limited number of keys the user can implement functions. 
I don't look at my keyboard (how many keys?) because I'm a touch 
typist. I just closed y eyes and think I didn't make too many 
mistakes, but I think I'll open them now.  Gee - only missed the m in 
my! If this was a flat panel, I'm sure the error rate would have been 
astounding.


>ps. How much did the people who produced the movie, Minority Report,
>know of this?

http://www.technovelgy.com/ct/Science-Fiction-News.asp?NewsNum=898 
for a comparison for you.


Jan Whitaker
JLWhitaker Associates, Melbourne Victoria
jwhit at janwhitaker.com
business: http://www.janwhitaker.com
personal: http://www.janwhitaker.com/personal/
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'Seed planting is often the most important step. Without the seed, 
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