Monday May 07, 2007
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Monday May 07, 2007 | Building Better User Interface Components | Computers |
Yesterday I wrote a post about how the gestural user interface from the movie "Minority Report" will never replace the mouse as a primary interface device. While perhaps I was being glib on calling it a "really bad idea," I stand behind my prediction that, other than a few niche cases, such an interface won't find widespread popularity.
Today, there are many alternative interface devices that people use instead of a mouse, but no one is talking about replacing the mouse with them. There are touch screens displays, graphics tablets, the laptop touch pads and "eraser" mice (and trackballs, Brian. 
. There are experimental devices that track your eyes and can tell what you're looking at, there are projection keyboards that project an image of the keyboard on a surface and then track your fingers. I assume that the same technology could be used to track your hand as a mouse. These devices all exist today, but none of them are threatening the mouse as the default device.
Now, the success of the Nintendo Wii has proven that a gestural interface has a place and people will accept it for some things. But a three dimensional interface is best used for manipulating three dimensional objects. So, until such time as everyone has a 3D display device, I don't see widespread demand for the "Minority Report" interface.
Commenter Brian noted the "innovation happens" and I agree with that. Any replacement for the keyboard and mouse will probably evolve organically. No one will boastfully declare it while it's still in the experimental phase. If you haven't figured our by now, it's not the device that I'm bashing, it's the arrogance of the developer who says he's working on the replacement for the mouse, and the silly reporter who propagates his claim.
Tags: user interface | computer mouse
Tags: computer interface mouse user
May 07, 2007 12:04 PM PDT Permalink | |
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Kevin Chu, Some Rights Reserved.
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All opinons are mine! Mine! Mine! Mine! Sun Microsystems has nothing to do with them.
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