Live data from Hacker News

A Motion-Sensing Keyboard

research.microsoft.com

1–10 of 140 posts

Re: A Motion-Sensing Keyboard

#5
post #2

I find it amusing that they used an Apple keyboard... Then again the chiclet style keys seem to be a big factor in the build.

The default position that all innovation comes only out of apple (vis the Apple keyboard comment) suggests that: 1. Apple marketing is still doing a great job convincing everyone they still have innovation in the heart of everything they do (I dare say it's not innovation as improvement and miniturisation) 2. Microsoft needs to do more to burnish it's innovation credentials

Re: A Motion-Sensing Keyboard

#7
I find this functionality is very cool, but does it have to be motion sensing? I find physically moving your hand off the keyboard and back on to be somewhat tiring, especially since it's doing apparently the same thing as "scroll down". But since the hand stays on the left side, how about adding a button underneath the left palm, where by moving the palm slightly the command is performed? This I think takes away any inconsistencies of "motion sensing" while still keeping your efficiency at a high (not to mention keeping your hands comfortable!).

Re: A Motion-Sensing Keyboard

#8
post #5
post #2

I find it amusing that they used an Apple keyboard... Then again the chiclet style keys seem to be a big factor in the build.

The default position that all innovation comes only out of apple (vis the Apple keyboard comment) suggests that: 1. Apple marketing is still doing a great job convincing everyone they still have innovation in the heart of everything they do (I dare say it's not innovation as improvement and miniturisation) 2. Microsoft needs to do more to burnish it's innovation credentials

As much as I want to agree with you, the keys have OS X labels on them, such as the command button, so this is an actual apple keyboard modified with sensors.

Re: A Motion-Sensing Keyboard

#9
Not sure about this specific execution, but the idea of having a unified input surface is very appealing. 3D gestures have also been floating around, but seems like this is the closest I have personally seen to something that is close the current reality of computer use.

That said, the rotation of the image gesture seems overly confusing. Mouse or trackpad seem like they would be an easier way to go...

Re: A Motion-Sensing Keyboard

#10
Strange that the "swiping & pinch to zoom" gestures (starting at 41) are exactly opposite of how they work in an iPad.

I can understand swiping being backward - people can disagree about "move the camera" vs. "move the paper" - but pinch-to-zoom-in is wrong in all contexts.

ah, microsoft. you've got this cool research, but somehow you manage to make the usability all wrong. how did these people not notice that they implemented pinch-to-zoom backward from how it works on their phones?

Post reply on HN