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From: c60a-2di@e260-1c.berkeley.edu (The Cybermat Rider)
Newsgroups: comp.windows.misc,comp.sys.next,comp.sys.mac
Subject: Re: replacing the desktop metaphor
Keywords: desktop metaphor, graphical interfaces, computing environments
Message-ID: <18640@agate.BERKELEY.EDU>
Date: 30 Dec 88 12:19:54 GMT
References: <4362@pitt.UUCP> <257@gloom.UUCP> <82702@sun.uucp> <8939@ut-emx.UUCP> <3504@geaclib.UUCP>
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Organization: University of California, Berkeley
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In article <3504@geaclib.UUCP> rae@geaclib.UUCP (Reid Ellis) writes:
[stuff about omni-directionality (?) of RF deleted]
>Now since we have other RF devices in the home [radio
>telephones spring to mind] which also can co-exist nicely, using different
>frequencies, why not keyboards?
>
>Is it a question of cost?

I don't think so - modems have been developed that use RF to communicate.
It's more a problem of RF waves from each keyboard interfering with
neighboring ones.  For wireless modems, this problem usually doesn't rear
its ugly head simply because no one would place 2 or more pairs of wireless
modems in the same room - in fact, if you need to 2 computers within the
same room, null modem cables usually suffice.  After all, the effective
transmission range of wireless modems is pretty short.

On the other hand, you're VERY LIKELY (in an office environment) to have
DOZENS of computers sitting in one room.  You could insist that the computer
companies concerned make their keyboards "tunable", but I doubt many people
would like to fiddle around with recessed potientiometers on the bottoms of
their keyboards, trying to adjust their transmission frequencies to avoid
interefering with other keyboards in the vicinity.

I think there may be problems regarding FCC clearance as well, but I'm not
an expert in that field, so I'll leave it to those in the know to enlighten
us all further.  Suffice it to say that the problems encountered with many
RF transmitters within a small space renders this idea somewhat impractical.

Vive la cable!!  8-)

>-- 
>Reid Ellis
>geaclib!rae@geac.uucp

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Adrian Ho a.k.a. The Cybermat Rider	  University of California, Berkeley
c60a-2di@web.berkeley.edu
Disclaimer:  Nobody takes me seriously, so is it really necessary?