Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!usc!samsung!uunet!mcsun!ukc!newcastle.ac.uk!turing!ncmh
From: Chris.Holt@newcastle.ac.uk (Chris Holt)
Newsgroups: comp.society.futures
Subject: Re: the interface for the rest of us?
Message-ID: <1991May8.173534.26272@newcastle.ac.uk>
Date: 8 May 91 17:35:34 GMT
References: <9105021606.AA26962@lti2.lti.uucp> <1991May3.204023.6661@ico.isc.com> <1991May4.172440.1851@casbah.acns.nwu.edu> <1991May6.232937.6334@ico.isc.com>
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Re the pen vs. keyboard, mouse, bat, etc.:

rcd@ico.isc.com (Dick Dunn) writes:

>Assuming the interface is done reasonably well, you may be right.  But
>there's also Chris Torek's point, which leads to the following reasoning:
>Should we really be comparing computer-made-to-look-like-typewriter with
>computer-made-to-look-like-keyboard?  Or should we be looking for a new
>model of interaction not constrained to be so similar to an existing one.
>Frankly, both keyboard and pen seem fairly primitive.

When screens will be displaying 3D scenes, we're going to need a
way of indicating the depth of what we're pointing at.  One possibility
is a pen that has a depth control; it shows up as an extendable
rod that grows and shrinks as you move the sliding button with
your thumb...
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 Chris.Holt@newcastle.ac.uk      Computing Lab, U of Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
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 "And when they die by thousands why, he laughs like anything." G Chesterton