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Hardware

Next Generation Input Devices? 25

Posted by Cliff 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."
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Next Generation Input Devices? More

Next Generation Input Devices?

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  • Whats wrong with plain old keyboard? (Score:3, Funny)

    by Asicath ( 522428 ) on Wednesday June 25, 2003 @06:53PM (#6298460) Homepage
    Jeez, it seems about once a month there is a post dealing with "Next-Generation" or "New and Improved" keyboards.

    My ass is a better input device then most of these devices.

    The particualar device you've posted looks to be the biggest loser of them all. Its not gesture recognition like in minority report, it looks a bit more like the "keys" have light sensors under their surface or that they work like micowave buttons.

    Because of this and the fact that the buttons are so close together, the chances of hitting unintended keys most be 1 in 2, you'd be better off trying to type with your hands on a on-screen keyboard on a palm pilot. Most of the instructions for this device seem to be warnings on how not to set off the keys.

  • Nervous Impulses... (Score:1, Insightful)

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

    This Link [bootstrap.org] describes it pretty well.

    • does anyone remember a little device that came out a few years ago? It was a little cup that you'd put your index finger into, and it had a few electrodes that would measure... well, some sort of electrical resistance in your finger... if you thought "left", well, the cursor would go left, goshdarnit. I tried one and it was frightening.

      Can't find any mention of it anymore, but it would be cool to see someone pick up where this company left off and refine the process (it was kinda jerky).

      My only guess is t

  • If you're haptic and you know it, clap your hands!
  • It looks too small to be comfortable.

    Also, I think that the reason why we still all have a keyboard is that it's a device that's practically as good as it can get. I don't mean QWERTY, Dvorak, or some other layout, but the keyboard device, of the normal size and type. If something does eventually replace the keyboard I think it'll be some kind of mental control interface, because I doubt it's possible to type much faster than we can already, and voice recognition will always be slower.
  • 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 poin
  • It's all crap! ;-)

    I say: next-generation input devices are based on directly tapping into your brain. There is some great research on linking neurons and technical devices (as previously reported on /.) and there is ongoing research in
    controlling a pointing devices via thougths [ambitiousaddict.com].
  • ...obvious...pr0n...joke.... "Need a small keyboard that's easy to clean? The iGesture Mini Keyboard is great for applications where two-handed touch typing is not the norm."

  • Great for lousy typists! (Score:4, Funny)

    by pete-classic ( 75983 ) <hutnick@gmail.com> on Wednesday June 25, 2003 @10:47PM (#6299791) Homepage Journal

    Two-finger typists, [and] one-handed typists [. . .] should immediately feel at home with the compact key layout.


    I read that as "If you can't type worth a damn on a real keyboard, you'll do just as well on this thing!"

    -Peter

  • No tactile feedback? (Score:3, Insightful)

    by morzel ( 62033 ) on Thursday June 26, 2003 @04:15AM (#6300778)
    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.

  • ... talk about 'iGesture' and 'Next Generation Input Devices' and leave out the iGesture Pad [thinkgeek.com]?

    It's a pad that can be used as mouse replacement (as known from laptops) but also executes macros from your gestures [thinkgeek.com].
  • For those who don't use the mouse often but still need it to do a few basic maneuvers here is an idea. Have a keyboard with the keys arranged in the standard way for a "natural" style keyboard except for the fact the keyboard is broken into two pieces and each piece is able to be moved independently as a mouse. Then your hands are always comfortable and your mouse is accesible.
  • This company's [fingerworks.com] popped up a few times here when discussion turned to keyboards - the general impression I get is that the keyboards are very nice once you get used to them, but they're fairly pricey. Plus, once you get used to them, you have trouble with normal keyboards. My major problem with them is the lack of tactile feedback - I like my clicky keys...
    Anyway, older discussions are here [slashdot.org], here [slashdot.org], here [slashdot.org], and here [slashdot.org].
  • I have tested several of these from iGesture. We had hoped to use them in one of our robotics designs, but have been a little disappointed. I can't complain about it doing what they say, it does seem to function as advertised. It is the part they seem to imply about how versatile and innovative it is that we found lacking. I have been using the same old 102 key forever, and at $10, I can't say I have found anything that really makes me want to give up almost $200 worth of capuci's for it. They also make a v

  • New? (Score:2)

    by MeanMF ( 631837 ) *
    That thing looks like the ultra-modern input device found on my old Atari 400.

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