Slashdot Mirror
Touchscreen Game Controller?
DARTH25 sent us a review of a fairly clever little
USB touchscreen controller. Think of it as a keyboard where you can move the buttons around and dynamically change graphics. And the "buttons" are a 320x240 12 bit LCD screen.
So switching to the railgun involves pressing the railgun icon on the screen. I'm not sure how well I'd like it for action games but for a lot of
games with many options, this could be really cool. Of course, its windows only, but maybe not for long.
This is exactly what I was thinking.. It would work great for launching applications that you use all the time. Once in the program you can then have quick access to most used functions or if its macro ability is good then you can make it do things that would normally take a few mouse/key clicks. I wonder if 2 hooked up would work together? IF the price was around the $150 range then I would go buy one, but at the current $300 its just too high a price. I can go buy a new monitor or gf3 card for the same price.
What, are you all retards??
Wipe the jizz-stains off those Coke Bottles!
Why don't you go outside for a while, you'll be surprised at the high level of "tactile-feedback"
I can see a lot of uses for this other than just for games. Context sensitive menus for other applications would be incredibly cool as well. How about when I open up my SQL application I get buttons that show relevent options?
I touch "insert into" and it shows me a list of tables in the current database.
It could do all of that without having to make everything into a GUI or taking away the ability to use the keyboard as well.
I'm not much of a gamer, but I think this would be incredibly cool to get my hands on.
-- Zack
There are some things reason can't buy. For everything else, there's gullible PHBs.
--
This will not work for most games. Gamers need to keep their eyes on the screen.. no gamer I know ever looks at their controller.
When you have your hands on a traditional controller, the bumpy buttons let you know your hands are in the correct position. You know when you press down, you will hit the right button. Accuracy is everything. With this, you can try to keep your hands in the same position, but the only way to know for sure is to make a mistake or look down. Forget it.
As an example, how often do you start typing with your hands one key to the left or right? You didn't even look at they keyboard, you used the bumpy keys to position your hands.
This looks like a great place to stick toolbars from the gimp, blender, etc... It would be great for getting the clutter off of your main screen and let you fill most of your screen with the actual image. Of course at $250 a pop, you might just want to invest in a bigger monitor.
This could be used for all sorts of things though. You might even program your windowmanager to stick your root menu on the thing so you don't have to find an open spot on your desktop (or have to reach for the F12 key).
Strangely they are marketing this towards games where speed is of the essence. I don't know about you, but averting my eyes from the screen to press a touchpad with no tactile feedback doesn't seem like the way to speed up my game. How long does it take for your finger to learn the position of the "build peon" key anyway?
Down that path lies madness. On the other hand, the road to hell is paved with melting snowballs.
I read the internet for the articles.
I think this is the same unit a friend of mine was trying out before the release (he's a friend of the main developer) and it's not just a touchscreen controller. The buttons you create on the screen can also be programmed to do macros. For example, you could setup a Buy button for Counter-Strike that would automatically buy all the stuff you need at the beginning of the round. Those of you who are RTS players can probably already taste the possibilites of that. It's pretty darn cool device and it's just a couple of guys who created it in their spare time, from what I understand.
That would be cool, however a cooler keyboard mod i've seen is this (scroll down a page or two to the bottom photo).
This would rock for controlling your mp3 box in the trunk of the car...
What is really needed for a car is voice input. Put an activation button on the wheel to enable the microphone, then speak what you want to do. That way you're not looking at the display when you should be looking at the road. If you have enough of a computer to decode compressed audio, you should have enough power to interpret voice input.
Ooh, a sarcasm detector. Oh, that's a real useful invention.
When you want to see human/machine interfaces designed for real-world high-stress environments, you go look at the military - the contols on fighter aircraft and tanks.
A frag hurts a lot more in real life.
What you'll find is that any control that has a combat function - things like vehicle manoevering, weapons selection, and triggers - are one-button-per-function, tactile-feedback items. Controls for communications and information systems tend to be placed on multi-use displays with changing menus - sometimes iconic, but mostly text.
This little gadget sounds like the latter, not the former. Good for keys and functions not heavily used, but not suitable for rapid action games like Quake and friends.
Want to learn about race cars? Read my Book
what is cool about this device is that you can have your Home Theater PC directly control what gets written to the LCD display.
:)
For example, I have my entire CD collection stored in MP3s on a linux box, running some homebrew jukebox type software. If I had one of these devices to use as a remote, I could select "mp3" from an audio source menu, and it could bring up a list of albums, selected live from the DB on the server. Just touch the album you want, and the HTPC sends out the appropriate IR to switch the stereo reciever's input, and instructs the jukebox to begin playing the album. Hard to justify the $300, but it sounds damn nifty
"moved" is correct since the clause is
subjunctive
some of your other comments fall into subjectivity
rather than grammar
next time you correct someone, you should try to
be correcter
-Kevin
Absolutely - I remember making a similar suggestion on an mp3-hi-fi list using an old palm Pilot - but this is much cooler.
If we can get the BIOS makers to support these, we'd have a really cool, small console window for machines that don't normally need displays, but
:-)
do from time to time need access to a desplay + keyboard.
I don't care about gaming with it
Hopefully it isn't used to tap locations for shoot. Then we have reduced first person shooters to "Whack a Mole".
I've often had the desire for something like this as an instant messenger helper: I'm in the middle of a full-screen game and I'm expecting a IM from a friend when they get online, so I'm Alt-Entering between full-screen and windowed mode. It would be nice to see IMs pop-up on the helper.
PalmAMP from Ironcreek Software (looks like their site is goobered, but you can find the download by Googling still) and the PalmAMP XMMS plugin should do at least a big chunk of what you're trying to do. The XMMS plugin is GPL as well, so you can perhaps turn your FIFO daemon into a converter for the PalmAMP protocol, thus saving the time of writing the GUI.
This will be the 'alternate' input device, where you can use your mouse, your keyboard or put all your grubby little paws over your screen and get nice little oil prints everywhere ... totally cool..
I don't want a lot, I just want it all!
Flame away, I have a hose!
Only 'flamers' flame!
Accompanied by, in the words of my brother, "AAAAAAAAHHHH!!! Dragon-punch, dammit! I Dragon-punched you!"
--
--
"Outlook not so good." That magic 8-ball knows everything! I'll ask about Exchange Server next.
2) I dunno. I think that if you could get enough controls onto the thing to move the keyboard off to the side and move the LCD under the monitor, you could play a game using it as your Perry Ferrell vision would pick it up, at least a bit, which might be enough if there were something to feel....
hmm, how about a clear plastic sheet (like those membrane plastic keyboard covers for standard keyboards) that can sit over the display with "buttons" moulded into it. So you could have a standard one with, say, 10 square regions for controls, or could ship a keyboard "skin" with a game if you wanted a different layout of button spaces... then just drop your graphics and controls into the spaces on the LCD underneath.
Or whatever. I've got to change the cat box.
Of course, its windows only, but maybe not for long.
Just like your scanner, right?
:)
I'm still using an old IBM PS/2 Keyboard. Its huge, weighs a ton, and has absolutely the best key action I have ever felt. And it makes a lovely *CLICK* every time you press down on a key. And you have to PRESS down on the keys, as the keyboard is stiff. I love this thing, and would be hard pressed to do without it.
Couldn't you come up with some kind of translucent bump on the surface to indicate tactile reference points? Use dots of scotch tape or some kind of epoxy that doesn't hurt the surface. Better yet, try these adhesive BumpOns from 3M. Here's some that are transparent acrylic dots.I bet you always wondered where to get those little acrylic dots. These things stick to glass, wood or metal. They stick firm and handle abuse, but come off with no residue.
This would be a sweet extra little display for a full-time klog, etc.
"No more one handed game play" - I don't think any new device could prevent "one handed game play" if you know what I mean.... Jeez, talk about "lcd smear"...
S.t.e.v.e.
Pseudo-tactile feedback can be achieved with sounds effects and just getting used to the layout. Same thing applies to pretty much every other controller out there.
In addition, you don't (I would not / do not) put time-critical functions on it; those are for your joystick/spaceorb/mouse/trackball/etc where your hand usually stays during melee combat.
I have an advanced form of this: I have a 15" LCD touchscreen computer that is designed to do exactly the same thing. I use a spaceball/trackball combo with the TSC just below the front of my screen and my keyboard below that. I can program the TSC to provide a template with all the menus/controls I need to play a particular game. Primarily, I put non-combat functions on the TSC (like the inventory loadouts and the (V)oice actions in Tribes 2). Switching weapons, firing, throwing grenades, jumping, jetting, etc are on my spaceball/trackball. Pretty soon I will be adding a set of foot switches as well (might as well get the rest of my limbs in on the action); I'll probably assign jumping, jetting, running, etc to those.
-SS "Teach the ignorant, care for the dumb, and punish the stupid."
I would buy it in a heartbeat.
No boom today. Boom tomorrow. There's always a boom tomorrow. - Cmdr. Susan Ivanova
I almost didn't follow that link because it looked like a certain other URL that I'd rather not click on.
--
Patrick Doyle
I mod down every jackass who puts his moderation policy in his sig. Oh, wait a sec....
With some PHP and a little thought you could do the a similar thing using my Linux based ETC software and a $50 surplus touchscreen computer. Monochrome only, unfortunetly.
If there is demand for this I might be able to wire the touchscreen inline between the keyboard and PC (for compatibility with Windows and Linux).
Funny... I never heard anybody on Star Trek: the Next Generation complain about this.
"Dammit, why did they put the 'Console Self-Destruct' button so frickin' close to the 'Raise Shields' button?"
I can definitely see how it would be useful while beating my monkey in Black & White,
Dude, upgrade to a color monitor already, it's way more realis...
Oh. Wait. You meant the game...
Err, nevermind.
Well, it works for FPS games for a while, at least... I bought it and used it quite frequently for Q2/Q3 play, and after a weekend of practice, became very, very good at using it for movement and various other functions.
:(
However, when I went to use it with SC3K a couple months ago (after having the thing for maybe 6 months), I found the sensors for rotation were broken. And I never even got to play a game where I could make use of them.
Oh well, I still use it for most of my gaming. 24 hotkeys for Diablo II at my fingertips - I don't even have them all programmed (I still have 2 free slots). Has to be 10 times easier then dealing with the keyboard.
---
"You know your god is man-made when he hates all the same people you do."
I like the idea of a "configureable" controller, but I want something more tactile than a flat screen.
I know where the A and B buttons are located on my mouse and joystick, not by sight, but by sense of touch. There is a clear, tactile line that seperates them, either by raising or lowering the sides, or by differing textures. An LCD panel won't do that, so I have to LOOK at the controller to figure out where the buttons are, each time I pick it up after drinking / petting the dog / taking a wizz. blech.
I also have the problem of lazy fingers that refuse to interpret visual information. That means that they can't read the controller and, as they are prone to fidgeting between turns, I will lose a lot of game play repeatedly dedicating 0.00000001 second each turn to visually confirming the layout.
That's true... And when the fuel gauge is very low, you can tap on it to make sure that it's working
For what little it's worth, I visit gotapex.com daily for their deals page http://www.gotapex.com/deals.php as it's generally pretty good.
So I'm still happy about the $20 APC surge protectors.
Easy does it!
This comment has been submitted already, 276865 hours , 59 minutes ago. No need to try again.
Why would you want to control your car mp3 player from the trunk.
OH!
ev0l
So, does having a program to change the display rather than sliding in a different bit of card justify a $300 price tag?
Of course it does. The things are probably practically hand-made by their original designer. Start shifting product volume, get them to be the "must have" for the next hot game, and they'll be $50 from Taiwan.
The great advantage of this over the BBC strip, is that it's context sensitive. Why have 15 incomprehensible buttons, when you can make it display a relevant set of 4, as you need them.
Don't underestimate funny keyboards though. We've just receievd a video edit suite built out of a bog-standard Mac, but with a keyboard that looks like a bag of coloured Lego. The gimmick is that it matches the colours of an industry-standard Avid edit suite, with resultant savings in training etc.
A nice keyboard. Programmable panel type thing. Have to be bigger of course. Has it been done. Actually tho, keyboards and the whole "main interface is a bunch of switches" type interface is a dinasaur. Consider the TWITCH GLOVE. Inertial tracking via acellerometers on each fingertip. Neural network for learning user gestures. Infinitely customizable. Emulates chord-keyboard, mouse, blah. No moving parts. Say goodbye to to carpal (chord with MICROTWITCHES! In any position.). Or maybe just an eye that watches your fingers. I know it's been thot of more or less but maybe it just hasn't been done right yet. Why else can't I buy a twitch glove yet? Keyboards are so fuckin Brazil.
Wonder if you can get carpel tunnel from touching your screen too often...
Hell, I know people who probably developed carpal tunnel syndrome from touching themselves too often....
Err, shouldn't that be "$ chown -R us.us yourbase"?
Or for the NT Fans:
Right click YourBase->Properties->Security->Ownership->Take Ownership
Shayne (yes, I'm being pedantic) ;-)
Today I didn't even have to use my AK; I got to say it was a good day -- Icecube
Might be a nice, cheap input controller for my car MP3 player. That's a lot of UI functionality for $250-$300, compared to what you pay for off-the-shelf automotive display solutions.
Dahlmann tightly grips the knife, which he may have no idea how to use, and steps out into the plain.
exactly what i was thinking :)
Alright, I've been looking for something like this for years. At the moment even a simple B&W LCD touch screen is $400-$500. According to their site they are developing Linux drivers. I'm sure with Linux Comunity help they oculd be brought to market quickly.
Home Theater Control
Server Information and Automation
Under capitalism man exploits man. Under communism it's the other way around.
There are many, many solutions for this. Anyone interested in running any sort of computer in their vehicle should visit the discussion forums on MP3Car
:)
Lots of good ideas there. Palm Pilot control is just one
--- Cum catapultae proscriptae erunt tum soli proscripti catapultas habebunt
If you want a good X10 interface, just get a Philips Pronto or other high end remote control. They're pretty similar to this, but wireless and rechargable. And they'll send infrared to your home theater.
I remember, back in the days of C64, when many games (yay MicroProse!) came with full-blown keyboard overlays. Ahhh MicroProse. The good old days of a 2 floppy game coming with a 200 page manual to help put you in the mood. Sid Meier, if on the off chance you're reading this, when you're done with Civ 3, WE WANT COVERT ACTION 2!
Vintage computer games and RPG books available. Email me if you're interested.
here is another hugh priced limited function controller that aint cheap
Prospecting Stinks. Stop Wasting Time on Cold Calling.
Of course, this kind of innovation never seems to be exploited to its full potential. In spite of my 'wait-and-see' attitude, I really like the possibilities.
These people looked deep into my soul and assigned me a number based on the order in which I joined.
Hmm, first thing to do when the linux-drivers hit the street, is making an 'organic'-StarTrek like console out of it! If 7'o'9 can work these screens, so can I! Engage!
-=- I heard rumours about an OS called "Social Life", heard of it? Is it stable? -=-
Has anyone ever thought about applying this concept to a Visor or a Palm Pilot while it is cradled? You would have a touch sensitive (Sort of) changable screen, and a lot of people would already have the hardware.
No more one handed game play!
Ok, that comment was a dead giveaway, or a badly disguised rorschach.. Uh.. So how about that onehanded quake, eh?sigfault
Well, the point is that this is for sims and stuff, where its less that you can't hit the key fast enough more that you can't remember wtf its bound to. Like tilde for reverse gear, y for select next target, that sort of thing. b for shutdown. Stuff that some designer idiot though you really need to memorize, and they have that one stupid card control list that everyone loses.
gotapex.com
For *just a second* I thought, "Wow, the trolls actually got a story posted with that goatsex URL."
If it ain't broke, it doesn't have enough features yet.
It seems to me that something like this might be good as the main display area in the portable market.
For example, use this as the display for a laptop. You could have a detachable keyboard for "regular" use. When detached, the display would work sort of like a PADD from Star Trek. Just slip a stylus in for good messure.
"I'm here for my sanity..." Train "I Am"
Something like Red Alert or Starcraft would probably be better suited to the touch-screen inventory access of the gamepad...
Yeah, but having fingerprints on your windshield sucks ass.
Help save the critically endangered Blue Iguana
Herm....I think the easiest thing would be to have several game pads and several different hands. Several heads would also help so you could independently deal with each hand....
:)
/. I haven't posted in over a month. :( This also means that my .sig is outdated because I haven't really updated my site since may.
Actually, I had a concept a while ago about a multiple player game with all the players controlling one person, but just different aspects of the person. One person could deal with inventory, and another with strength etc...there could be struggles between the different parts of the person, which would make it slightly competitive between the players playing the game. This probably makes no sense to anyone else, but it makes perfect sense in my brain.
ps- working at Camp Susque really takes time away from cruising
The anti-salmon
Not knowing much about electronics, how expensive would it be to have a standard keyboard with little (7mm x 7mm) LCD or LED displays on each key? I did a quick search through Radio Shack's web site but they seemed to be limited to those little numeric LED displays that only have 7 lights.
I could see a lot of uses; allow someone to switch back and forth between Dvorak/Qwerty or between some bastard combination (e.g. I just chopped off my left hand, oops, let's put all of the most common keys in the RH home row.) Or, how about a custom C++ keyboad with ';', '{' and '}' in the homerow? Imagine how much stress you'd save with the braces placed where the 'g' and 'h' keys are.
Anyway, enough musing. The only way it would be useful is if keyboard had a way to show the current keyboard settings. So back to my origional question. Is this technically feasible?
P.S. I was going to patent the idea ;), but I'd really be just as happy if someone else would develop it and let me buy one.
P.P.S. I realize the cheap option is to buy a cheap keyboard and paint over the letters...
Waltz, nymph, for quick jigs vex Bud.
Why did you type tilde rather than just pressing ~? :)
Just wondering
Yours Sincerely, Michael.
this would be great for CAD stuff....I'm finding I spend too much time moving around and zooming.....especially to get those little details. AutoCAD already has an aerial view window - it just gets in the way having it on the same display as my drawing view....still, don't think my boss will go for the $300 US price tag.
But as everything new its always expensive and cool. If it is a good idea price will go down and quality will improve. I wouldn't be surprised to see such keyboards in the future. It sure gives the "keymap" a new dimension. Just toggle the symbols of the keys whenever you use another keymap.
Probable impossibilities are to be preferred to improbable possibilities.
Aristotele
This would rock for controlling your mp3 box in the trunk of the car....
Abstainer: a weak person who yields to the temptation of denying himself a pleasure.
Abstainer: a weak person who yields to the temptation of denying himself a pleasure.
--Ambrose Bierce
Say, a row of icons to select armor, a row for weapons, a row for packs, a row for grenades, a row for presets... Now just select your loadout by tapping icons. Seems pretty slick in concept.
EOT
Keeping
I believe in custom controls, where you could place the controls on the touch-screen however you want, but I'm sure that too many games would break the useability by changing the controls too much throughout the game.
Keeping
Ever used an ATM ? that device-that-you-can-reconfigure-keys-on-the-fly-wi th is called a touchscreen ...
"A door is what a dog is perpetually on the wrong side of" - Ogden Nash
Stagnated? That doesn't quite explain the evolution of computer keyboards. The fact is, computer keyboards used to be better. Buckling spring IBM keyboards from the early 80's still work as new. In the last 8 years or so, computer keyboards have turned from $50-$150 investments into $8 throwaway items, with the consequent loss of quality and durability. Maybe if everyone's P4 or Athlon computer came with a quality keyboard like the old Northgates and IBMs, people wouldn't be looking so hard for better input devices.
Ingenious
"Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups."
How great would this would this be for flight sims? You could have the whole instrument panel out in front of you...
Personally, I think the coolest use would be to have a terminal open at all times so I could always have it at my disposal.
--The space between my ears was intentionally left blank--
This could be really awesome for controlling a dedicated video playback computer hooked up to one's home entertainment system.
I've also seen devices almost identical to this one but again using a piece of cardboard in front of the buttons rather than an LCD.
So, does having a program to change the display rather than sliding in a different bit of card justify a $300 price tag?
I think not.
Besides, we all know CLIs are the best, right?
So, everyone knows that it doesn't help to press buttons hartder cuz you won't shoot any faster, but that never stops anyone. I wonder how many units with cracked LCDs will get shipped back to the manufacturer...
Perhaps a warning on the box... Not intended for easily excitable players. Risk of severe thumb abrasions from sharp shards of plastic.
--CTH
--
--Got Lists? | Top 95 Star Wars Line
Most of the windshield in my car is out of arm's reach. This is the situtation in many cars.
I had one of the first generations of these, and loved it loved it loved it. 35 programmable keys (they were the little bubble-wrap type deals, which had some of the tactile feedback everybody's talking about), each key could be programmed for up to 4 functions using a simple latched-shift system... It even had a gamepad-style 8-way hat.
One of the truly nifty features was that it didn't require a driver to be installed - it perfectly emulated a keyboard, repeat rates and all. Configurations could be programmed in via a driver, but for folks who wanted to take their PC Dash around, there was a very cool barcode scanner built in. When you printed out a layout to cover the buttons with, a barcode would go on the page. Plug the dash in, swipe the barcode, and you were off.
The PC Dash 2 is not quite as cool, and I think it took a step backward, but it was USB... the first gen used a PS/2 passthrough. Still, I have very fond memories.
Yea verily, Saitek doth make some of the swiftiest peripherals on the planet. The X-36 throttle is possibly the perfect interface for flight games.
Meanwhile...
Since the Touchscreen can display new screens for each game automatically, I suggest taking it a step further and make it totally dynamic throughout the application. Instead of one screen that stays static for the entire game (requiring you to either make tiny little icons to cover the retinue of commands, or forego commands in favor of bigger icons), give the option for the user to create drill-down style menus which temporarily replace unrelated controls. Press the Inventory button, all the related inventory controls pop up. Press the Weapons button... well, you get the idea. This wouldn't be much good in fast-paced games, but for those of us who prefer our games a little slower-paced, it would truly rock. For the folks who are thinking of dynamic LCARS control panels, there you have it.
Tatsujin
Visit Unclebear.com for all your roleplaying needs that don't involve leather.
How about touch-sensitive HUDs on Windshields? It wouldn't require averting the eyes.
In the future I can really see a controller like this taking off. For fast paced fps games it won't work well, as the article says. For RTS games though where you use a lot of hotkeys to organize your units it would be ideal. I can really see something like this getting heavy use on console systems down the road. Game developers would have alot of uses for a customizable controller where you could draw your own icons for buttons, etc.
The first thing I thought of is Star Trek, and that Sci-Fi commercial with someone sliding a uh slider across the screen with their finger.
Someone who is disabled could use this to put the keys where they need them. Maybe they can't use the current keyboard since the buttons are too close together.
Would there be 'screen' savers for this device? Could I use xlock? The screensaver cycles through different languages/character sets and no one has a clue what to hit?
Of course i'd like to pipe X onto it and keep my root console/x session there so I can change stuff really really on the fly.
Get your Unix fortune now!
If you're really looking for a cheaper "do-all" controller check out the MS Strategic Commander. It's pitched as a controller for "strategic" games, but I use it for FPS games too...its nice to be able to move, jump and change weapons at the same time without double-jointed fingers.
I wish I had more hands so I could give this post 4 thumbs down!
> what about button sensitivity? In certain games, like Madden football, you control the trajectory of a pass by how hard or soft you press the button, so how would a flat touchscreen do that with any sort of feel?
I imagine that they'd do something similair to B&W's guestrues. Maybe the speed you move your finger up or the length of the arc you describe determines how far it goes (btw, I'm assuming that the touch-part (as opposed to the display-part) would work like those little laptop pads, the square mouse thingies).
-Jason-
...touchscreen gaming already exists
this idea is awesome, but in my experience with frustrated gamers, they prefer a durable controller that can be thrown repeatedly at the screen/wall.
Endless arguments over trivial contradictions in books written by ignorant savages to explain thunder in the dark.
btw, impressive site! Don't worry, not an image to be seen, fortunately :-)
karma capped
And btw, I much prefer the switches and dials and blinking lights and levers from Star Wars as opposed to the sleek touchscreen controls of Star Trek.
--
$ chown -R us:us yourbase
I also think that the tactile response is as important visual feedback. What about hacking up an old vibrating pager or cell phone battery, attach it to the back of the screen, so when a "key" is pressed there is a very short but instant response in the form of a vibration.
"Get them before they get....
OK so this might have a future for educational games or maybe even slow-action RPG's, but seriously, who has ever pressed "X" because it says "X" more than the first time you pressed it. You remember it's in a certain position or feels a certain way, and so you keep pressing it. Visual representation is just not needed on controllers, it's all about feeling.
In addition, what about button sensitivity? In certain games, like Madden football, you control the trajectory of a pass by how hard or soft you press the button, so how would a flat touchscreen do that with any sort of feel? I don't think this will be very popular.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~ now you know
Can't even imagine what this will do for the porn industry.
2) The biggest problem with LCD touchpads (this one included) is the absolute lack of tactile feedback. To know which button you are about to press (and to make sure you only hit one) you have to look at the controler. That is time that you spend not looking at the action on the computer screen. Bad idea in a firefight.
The concept is cool though...
I've been waiting for someone to come out with something like this for a while. What I've wanted is a secondary method of controlling my computer that was completely dynamic, it looks like that's what this thing can do. Basically this thing provides a quick and easy way to access common computer functions, anything from muting the sound to switching between tasks to monitoring the heat of your motherboard.
Now this specific model may not be ready to do all that, but either someone will figure out how to hack it or future products will fill in the gaps. $300 is alot to spend on something like this, but hopefully they will come down in price enough to warrant buying multiples.
In case my rant isn't making any sense, what I'm talking about is moving the computer's interface from beyond the monitor and the mouse to the surrounding work area. Accessing computer functions in a graphical environment would be alot easier if I were simply able to tap a pad on my desk rather than navigate through hierarchical menus with my mouse. Just another step towards the ultimate computer workstation.
I'm sure it wouldn't be too much effort to cause a soft Trek "beep" with each keypress.
The next best thing to saying, "Computer... lights."
-----------------
"Bloody marvelous."
I know that games like Ever Quest would be flooded with stories about how a excitable wizard gets supprized by a high level Dragon, hits the pad to get a spell, and knocks the screen right on to the floor. Any game panel needs to be very reliable.
You can't judge a book by the way it wears its hair.
Everyone's trying to revamp computer input. From the weird slidy-disks from a while back to the vertical keyboards with the keys on the side. It's quite a barrier to entry, more than most other computer technologies. No matter what kind of computer you're using, chances are you type on a spring-actioned QWERTY keyboard. Perhaps some improvement is needed, because it's a technology that's stagnated in the past few years, but someone's going to have to come up with something damned snazzy before they really start to catch attention. Not to mention the fact that most of these new devices can cost up to hundreds of dollars, where you can get a workable keyboard for $30 at Best Buy... Jeffrey
It makes me so sad to beat that poor monkey. Even when he eats stuff he's not supposed to eat (villagers, his shit), or throws my loyal followers into the ocean. Black & White kicks ass
Play no games, say no names
We use hotkeys or just memorize the setup.
I really think they should release the source and allow developers to make any (unsupported) tools. The company still sells the hardware, and opens it up to a larger audience with little cost.
There's already a slew of good ideas in this forum.
-K
I agree that this device is certainly unsuitable for the action game market, but I think there are plenty of good applications for it, game-related and otherwise. I play plenty of slow-paced games when I'm not feeding my Counterstrike addiction, and I would use this device for many of 'em. It'd make SimCity easier - no more futzing with the mouse, hunting for that little icon. I can customize my interface so the things I use often are easy to find. I also play on a lot of MUSHes. I could use this to speed up cycling between them or to have out-of-game macros for setting up an @idle or @away message. Turn based games? Alpha Centauri and Civ:CTP would both be easier without the mouse. Now if it weren't for that $300 price tag, I might be more interested...ah well. The price has to come down eventually.
Virtue finds and chooses the mean.
Aristotle, Ethica Nichomachea
I can definitely see how it would be useful while beating my monkey in Black & White, and I'd love to try it out in a old fashioned Total Annihilation throwdown...but it seems a bit pricey for a gaming peripheral. And if you wanted a device that held website links you could get one of those fancy mousepads with the shortcut buttons for free. (Even that is just a novelty, as I got bored of it after a couple days and hucked it at the nearest stop sign.)
Good idea for a nifty gadget, but way too expensive.
--
"I strongly urge both the faint of heart and the faint of butt to leave the room at this time."
- Strong Bad