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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."
It is of my opinion that these new technologies are being put forth by Microsoft to quite openly mock those without thumbs.
I see through your ruse, Microsoft! HA! WHAT NOW??
This sounds extremely familure to the already-on-market TDA (Tactile Digital assistant). Is this a Microsoft copycat?
It seems that microsoft is looking to have some kind of setup like apples iPod, but for a PDA. This might be a problem for some though, my thumb is gigantic so trying to make precision movements might be difficult.
I can handle both a trackpad and a trackpoint very well with one hand - a finger for the pointer and a finger or thumb for the button(s). Ive been doing this for years. How is this new?
Ever use a Palm (outside of the low end Zire models) in the last 2-3 years?
This must be for people who are all thumbs around technology.. now if only they could develop something for people with two right feet..
Starsucks
Today's devices require the use of two hands; Microsoft wants to reduce this to one.
Who says porn doesn't drive innovation in the computer industry?
I'll turn into a supernova and burn up everything. Well I'll turn into a black little hole and you'll turn into string.
The one thumb interface is significantly better than the three finger salute.
It's not every day we get a 3x improvement in productivity!
I bet when they patent it it'll be broad enough that both the above are covered.
Real Daleks don't climb stairs - they level the building.
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.
Well, whaddya know? Mircrothoft does thumbtimeth come up with good ideath.
(Spudley Strikes Again!)
Chimps counter sue.
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
My current job is building a program for a handheld device. Because the unit will be used outdoors while the users are wearing gloves in winter I also came up with the idea of really big buttons on screen.
.Net or mobile devices is to completely ignore the programming standards as recommended by mircrosoft.
The secret to writing easy to use applications for CE
Out main issue is finding hardware that is robust enough (IP67 should be tough enough, IP65 is not) with all the bells and wistles and most importantly they need a good keyboard for lots of data entry. The industry seems to be moving away from keyboard entry but if you're doing lots of data entry it is the only way to go. I've also found that units are failing tests that they are rated to survive easily.
At this point It's almost looking like having custom units built is the way to go
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.
Oh, this is on Brighthand. No wonder they think Microsoft is novel...
:-)
Seriously, though, there's a good one-thumb or nearly one-thumb interface out there now on the palmOne Treo 650. (Not from Microsoft, of course, so they don't acknowledge it.) It's not perfect, but the learning curve is very low. It supports both one-thumb and two-thumb interaction, or stylus interaction if you want. However, with the thumbboard and good software integration I was able to go a week with it without using the stylus in any of the included programs.
Sorry, MS, you're not being innovative. You're following palmOne. How sad is that.
--GrouchoMarx
Card-carrying member of the EFF, FSF, and ACLU. Are you?
I remember reading an article not too long ago that discussed problems people were having from extended use of their thumbs for things like text messaging, and gameboy-like appliances. The condition is now commonly referred to as "Nintendo Thumb". I guess Microsoft wants its share of this market as well.
The PalmOne Treo 650 pda-phone is already very close to being a thumb-operated device. You can navigate almost everywhere and select almost anything using the 5-way navigational keypad, then there's the built-in hardware keyboard. I routinely use this device single-handedly, using only my thumb to navigate and enter text. It's actually pretty rare that I HAVE TO break out the stylus and tap something on the screen (usually my thumbnail is good enough). The bigest limit is the size of the keyboard is larger than the range of motion of my thumb, requiring slight shifting of the way I hold it in my hand as I'm using it, but I would not categorize that as a problem with the design as it's not something that is a nuisance to work with. Bottom line is, what is the innovation we're seeing from MS? We already HAVE this.
1.Netcraft confirms:In Soviet Russia all your base welcomes a beowolf cluster of CowboyNeal overlords. 2.? 3.Profit!!1!
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.
Not having RTFA I don't know how MS wants people to use this, but if it's for all input, it won't be good.
I used to use a trackball, and I ruined my righthand thumb. I can just operate my cellphone, but even though I haven't used it today, I still have a slight pain in my thumb.
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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.
RE:thumb-driven interfaces also known as hitchhiking
Politics is Treachery, Religion is Brainwashing
I was thinking more along the lines of the thumb driven tiny joysticks on my Garmin Etrex Vista GPS, my Nokia 9300 and my mother's Konica X31 camera.
I kinda like those, they're small, easy to control movement in 4 directions and can be pressed for enter. A pretty cool device for controlling menus with one thumb.
X.
Today's devices require the use of two hands; Microsoft wants to reduce this to one.
That could be very useful for handheld devices that connect to the internet... one-handed browsing is simply a must for some people.
Give a man fire, and you warm him for the night. Set a man on fire, and you warm him for the rest of his life.
Well, I'm sure Ebert and Roeper will like this new interface.
GCHQ Quantum Insert installed. If only our tongues were made of glass, how much more careful we would be when we speak