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Next Generation Input Devices?

Posted by Cliff on from the gestures-and-flat-keypads dept.

TenDimensions asks: "Has anyone at Slashdot seen this new input device and tried it out? What's it like? There's no doubt that new computer input devices are on the way (did anyone use the Minority Report-style hand-gesture detector at the car show a couple of months ago?) This seems interesting enough to try out, but I thought I'd ask you folks before I plunked down the money."

4 of 25 comments (clear)

  1. Nervous Impulses... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

    It seems to me that the holy grail of input devices are ones that measure nervous impulses.

    This Link describes it pretty well.

  2. You are missing the point.. by floydman · · Score: 2, Insightful

    There are several sizes of that mini keyboard, and the layout is the same as the regular keyboard.

    The only difference is that the keyboard surface is also a touch mouse pad, which in my opinion actually is easier. The hand movement from a regular kb to a mouse can be quite frustrating sometimes(ofcorse if espically use X, or even windows)..

    I mean i am a Keyboard user, i dont use the mouse often, but sometimes i am just stuck on shortcuts or moves, and i have to, and its frustrating... thats the whole point of it i guess..

    And by the way.. this subject have been on /. before..

    --
    The lunatic is in my head
  3. Re:Whats wrong with plain old keyboard? by jrivar59 · · Score: 2, Insightful

    The problem with keyboards is twofold:

    1) RSI and other such conditions. For those that suffer, keyboard alternatives are extreamly attractive

    2) Bandwidth. Even at 120wpm, my fingers are typically slower than my brain. Improving the input speed would make new things possible. For example, broadband did more than make downloads go faster, it made a whole new class of services available that were never around before. The mouse is the last device to really do this on the channel between user and computer.

    I'm all for these alternatives. Except when coding, then I need things to go much slower than my brain...... Its unlikely anything will replace the standard mouse/keyboard setup any time soon, but we can dream.

  4. No tactile feedback? by morzel · · Score: 2, Insightful
    Keyboards that don't provide some tactile feedback that a key has been 'clicked' are very awkward to use, because the only way you know that you have successfully recorded a 'click' is by checking on the screen. This is very tiring.

    I don't think I would ever be able to use these kinds of keyboards as efficiently as I do know with my 'regular' keyboards.

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