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Surfing the Web Haptically
Chakat sent us a story about Haptic feedback, a buzzword ready technology where the mouse provides tactile feedback in addition to letting you click on your porn. Seriously I would love a bit of feedback when my mouse moves over a button or a link: Sorta like how modern window managers can snap borders to edges of other windows or the screen when moving or resizing... I think that a similar tactile thing for buttons would ease mouse navigation. Or else I can just continue binding ridiculous things like Ctrl-Alt-Shift-Meta-F8 to every little action.
Seriously I would love a bit of feedback when my mouse moves over a button or a link: Sorta like how modern window managers can snap borders to edges of other windows or the screen when moving or resizing...
But imagine the virtual "gravity well" sucking your mouse into the ad banners.
Brings a whole new meaning to "real time black hole".
Bantam Dominique roosters crow a four-note song. Once you've heard it as "Happy BIRTHday" you can't NOT hear it that way
So far today there have been articles on tactile mouse feedback, replicators, and browser spyware that records mouse movements. Of course, we already know that the porn industry will be the first to utilize these things to full effect, but can you imagine what it would be like to use all three? Imagine images the react to your mouse movement and give you tactile feedback, all while replicating on your desk!
I like to play children's songs in minor keys.
"We're all sons of bitches now." --J. Robert Oppenheimer
"On Wednesday, Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates showed off a handheld computer that understands which way is up and where it's being touched."
His wife was, reportedly, fuming on the sidelines of the press conferance. Apparently, she was mumbling something about the invention resulting in her role being usurped in the couple's sex life.
"Old man yells at systemd"
I stumbled apon what I now know is a simulation of Haptic feedback several times in the past. To enable this simulation, simply eat corn/potato chips in the general vicinity of your mousepad.
Of course, the bumps don't really correspond to whats on the screen, but every once in a while, damned if it doesn't seem that way!
m00.
There are two problems with thiis:
(1) It doesn't do much good, aside from annoying the user. Haptic sensory information must travel much further than visual info, and the sensory transducers are not really low-latency, so by the time you feel the icon, its too late--You have already used your visual system to hone in on the target, and so you already know you are there (cf. Fitts's Law). I know that some people think these force-feedback mice are cool, but whenever I have used one, I just feel like some gunk is stuck on my mouse ball.
(2) Its not available for Linux--which is why CT might be unaware of it.
UNC has been using haptic interfaces, in conjunction with VR technology, to allow [bio]chemists the ability to 'assemble' new compounds at the atomic level. The researchers have grappling arms attached to their hands. The atomic repulsion/attraction is felt by the user, and can be used to figure out how the atoms / molecules should join together.
I think...I think it's in my basement. Let me go upstairs and check. -M.C. Escher (1898-1972)