My 2d worth on the iPad
February 2, 2010 at 5:26 pm | Posted in waffle | 2 CommentsTags: Apple, surface, tablet
I’ve posted a couple of times about touch-screen technologies and e-book readers, so you can imagine that I awaited the Apple event with baited breath – and like so many others thought ‘Is that it? A big iTouch?’ The Register’s ‘Next from Apple: the Pocket iPad‘ pretty much summed it up. Ho ho. Or should that be Ho Hum.
A couple of days later the penny dropped and I realised why the iPad and its soon-to-be-announced competitors (powered by Google Chrome maybe) really are the next big thing. ‘Proper’ computers running Windows or OS X are more than most people need – or can cope with. What they want is something that “just works”, like their TV, their mobile phone, their Wii etc. Something that works as soon as you press the ‘on’ button. And that is the experience I get from my iTouch right now – and that the iPad will replicate with a larger screen.
No hierarchical file store? No need, all your docs will be stored and edited online in the cloud. More than anything, this is a device built for our new age of always-on high-speed wireless connectivity.
No multitasking? No problem, provided I can listen to music while I use Facebook/etc/etc. Most apps save their state when you switch back to the home screen anyhow, so switching is seamless and quick.
No USB port to connect my camera so I can upload my photos? They’ll sell you their ‘optional camera connection kit’. It will sync your photos and other files with the cloud, so no need to plug in backup drives etc.
Want to type longer emails? No problem, they’ll sell you their optional charging stand with built-in keyboard. This is good, because you’ll want to sit properly for this kind of work anyhow.
No built-in camera for video chat? Ah, that’s what your iPhone 4G is for… the iPad is just one part of the digital ecosystem that Apple want to sell you. See this video about the ‘Digital Hub‘ from 2001.
Expect to see a tight wireless connection between your iPhone and your iPad so that you only need one data plan to use your iPad away from a Wi-Fi hotspot. Expect to see wireless bluetooth headphones so you can enjoy your music without tangles.
I want one already… but on the other hand I have a really nice MacBook which allows me to do all these things and more… sigh.
Multiple-touch interfaces from Microsoft
October 2, 2009 at 9:38 am | Posted in waffle | Leave a commentTags: Apple, future, Microsoft, surface, touch, vision
There is a good deal of excitement in the HCI (Human-Computer Interaction) world about the potential for touch interfaces, especially those that support multiple touch and gestures – exemplified by Apple with its iPhone, iPod Touch and MacBook trackpads. However, Microsoft has also been doing a good deal of work in this field, as can been seen from these developments. With both these major players pushing this technology, one thing is certain – in 5 years time you won’t just be using a keyboard and mouse.
BumpTop is a 3-D desktop overlay for Windows 7 – take a look at the video to see the potential. Of course it relies on having a PC with a multi-touch sensitive screen – and there aren’t many of these at present. I think there are also some ergonomic issues – do you have the screen flat on your desk, upright or (perhaps best) propped on a lecturn – I can imagine your arms getting tired quickly if the position is awkward, and you don’t want to be looking down at it all the time either.
Microsoft Surface envisions larger mult-touch surfaces that can be used collaboratively – and these devices already exist and are in use – they just aren’t common (yet). If you want to see where Microsoft think this is heading, check out their ‘vision of the future‘ videos – look at the montage first, andthere are others that focus on healthcare, banking etc.
Finally, lots of tech blogs are gushing over Microsoft Courier, a tablet device (that doesn’t actually exist yet) that again shows how touch interfaces can radically alter the way we use computers. An of course its an open secret that Apple will be launching a tablet device next year…
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