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Microsoft Proposes Thumb-Driven Interfaces
bonch writes "Microsoft Research has demonstrated examples of two thumb-driven interfaces for handhelds proposed a few weeks ago. Today's devices require the use of two hands; Microsoft wants to reduce this to one. Usability tests showed, however, that some users had difficulty adjusting to the thumb movements. Full researcher's report here."
Ever use a Palm (outside of the low end Zire models) in the last 2-3 years?
I guess this won't help the generation who are growing up using their thumbs as fingers due to mobile phones.
It's good to see Microsoft being innovative towards something they had previously not been, It's always good to see original ideas going into practice, and new ways to operate products.
Business Voyeur
Usability tests showed, however, that some users had difficulty adjusting to the thumb movements.
So, usability tests showed a bit of a learning curve on a new, very different way of doing things?
Fancy that.
despite the fact that none of this technology is ground breaking, it's nice to see new directions in interface design, I sure hope that the mouse doesn't end up being the best computer interface.
Those who know, do not speak. Those who speak, do not know. ~Lao Tzu
I know you're trying to be funny, but Microsoft's research is very interesting. I don't know if its on the level of the old Bell Labs, but many of the stuff is very interesting. See for yourself to see what I mean. That is where most of the innovation seem to stem from. Too bad I haven't seen much of their research being used in their latest Windows and Office offerings, though.
The thing to remember about Microsoft, though, is that the marketing department, not the actual engineers, seems to run the company. Microsoft is so into destroying the competition that sometimes the implementation of their products get a bit sloppy, because of rushed deadlines, demands from the marketing department, and other issues. Look at history of Windows, for example. Windows didn't become fully stable until about Windows 2000, and they're still working on Windows's security (even though a competent user can deal with this with a firewall and Firefox).
Even so, the quality of MS software has improved over the years. Windows is a stable operating system, Office is a great tool if you ignore Clippy, and Visual Studio is a very nice IDE. It might not be the most "innovative" software, but it works just fine for most tasks. I feel that the company is finally realizing that it should focus on making good quality software rather than just shipping an unpolished product. Now, this doesn't mean that I'm dumping *nix for Windows anytime soon, but anytime I must work on a Windows box, at least I feel a bit more comfortable.
>> This sounds extremely familure to the already-on-market TDA (Tactile Digital assistant).
...
>> Is this a Microsoft copycat?
This idea is similar but not a copycat. From TFA
"Current handhelds generally require the use of two hands: device in one hand, stylus in the other. Microsoft hopes to allow future devices to be used with a single hand."
The two UIs created and their research takes into account the limited range of motion of your thumb and designs a UI that can be used with one hand.
The Jackito-TDA is simply a normal PDA with bigger buttons so you can use two thumbs to operate things.
Besides, the TDA is still not "already-on-market" as you put it. The article that you linked to mentions that it was considered vapor ware. Even the buy it now page on the Jakito wesbite still lists it as only taking pre-orders.
OS X, Linux, Tivo, Amiga, my fascination with cult-like technologies would intrigue any psychiatrist.
It's bad enough that we have to dial phones and enter text messages with such a crappy interface. Going from two thumbs to one means that the devices are marginally cheaper - but it means that ALL of the work now happens with one thumb instead of two. It seems pretty likely that this will double the load on the thumb - making all sorts of repetitive strain problems more prevelant.
We should be looking at technologies that allow you to use MORE fingers - not LESS.
www.sjbaker.org
And I'm not kidding. I really prefer to use two hands rather than put additional strain on my thumbs.
I wouldn't say the Tablet PC has failed (I own one, and I think it's an awesome device), but if the basic forms of computing gadget for the foreseeable future are limited to desktop, notebook and PDA and we're happy with that, then we may as well stop innovating now. I sure as hell don't want to be stuck with three form factors 20 years from now...
Desktop computers, servers, laptops and phones have all started in their niche markets in the past, and I'm happy for MS to use their cash to kickstart market segments that may or may not yield results. In some cases, they might stumble on something worthwhile. A one-handed interface has benefits for in-car PCs, industrial devices, phones and related devices like touchscreens and mouse design. Long term, the aggregation of ideas from this with existing PDA and tablet technology might yield devices that appeal more to the mainstream.
Maybe this interface is right for someone (corporate drones, perhaps, whose work lives are drowned in minutaie). But when devices or broadcasts make you shuffle through a maelstrom of information to learn or get something done, you're submitting to someone else's taste for disorder.