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Adaptive Hardware: Context Aware Interfaces (2013)

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Re: Adaptive Hardware: Context Aware Interfaces (2013)

#31
post #22

Here's the question I have. If you have morphing context aware keys, how do you avoid the tragedy of disparate iconography across apps? I haven't watched much of the material, so pointers welcomed. But "ctrl+s in this app saves" seems preferable to "which icon is save in this app"?

Icons are on the way out anyway, precisely because unless there's a strong analogy with a widely familiar physical object, an icon really can't unambiguously convey what it does. They'll still be used for applications but the "replace textual menu entries with little pictures" trend is rightfully dying out.

Re: Adaptive Hardware: Context Aware Interfaces (2013)

#32
post #15

I remember seeing it for the first time on HN few years ago and it's still relevant: http://hijinksensue.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/2012-06-1... OK, before you kill me: I know it's not the same thing and Apple actually brings value to the table with their products (even if sometimes it's 'just' polishing the UI/UX). What I don't like is that most of the world will gladly accept everything that Apple sells as Appl…

[deleted]

Re: Adaptive Hardware: Context Aware Interfaces (2013)

#33
post #15

I remember seeing it for the first time on HN few years ago and it's still relevant: http://hijinksensue.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/2012-06-1... OK, before you kill me: I know it's not the same thing and Apple actually brings value to the table with their products (even if sometimes it's 'just' polishing the UI/UX). What I don't like is that most of the world will gladly accept everything that Apple sells as Appl…

[deleted]

Re: Adaptive Hardware: Context Aware Interfaces (2013)

#34
post #15

I remember seeing it for the first time on HN few years ago and it's still relevant: http://hijinksensue.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/2012-06-1... OK, before you kill me: I know it's not the same thing and Apple actually brings value to the table with their products (even if sometimes it's 'just' polishing the UI/UX). What I don't like is that most of the world will gladly accept everything that Apple sells as Appl…

Shipping a product is quite different from a publishing a paper.

Re: Adaptive Hardware: Context Aware Interfaces (2013)

#35
post #4

It's a shame that keyboards with programmable key images didn't get more widespread usage beyond Optimus [1]. I currently have a Corsair K95 RBG keyboard and it's programmable 18x3 keys [1] are near unusable because I can never figure out what G1 or G2 does. But if I had programmable key images... [1] http://www.artlebedev.com/optimus/ [2] http://www.corsair.com/en-us/landing/k95-rgb

Kind of cool, but I'm trying to think of what this offers over just eye candy. Maybe it could aid key combinations, e.g. pressing the meta key illuminates other parts of the keyboard for completion. Finger DDR, whack-a-mole? As others have mentioned, looking at the keyboard is generally something to be avoided. The premise for this is sort of a workflow antipattern.

It works best when you have a lot of additional blank function keys, like the Corsair K95 has, that you can both program and assign images to.

Re: Adaptive Hardware: Context Aware Interfaces (2013)

#36
post #26
post #4

It's a shame that keyboards with programmable key images didn't get more widespread usage beyond Optimus [1]. I currently have a Corsair K95 RBG keyboard and it's programmable 18x3 keys [1] are near unusable because I can never figure out what G1 or G2 does. But if I had programmable key images... [1] http://www.artlebedev.com/optimus/ [2] http://www.corsair.com/en-us/landing/k95-rgb

Do people actually look at their keyboard when typing? I think tactile feedback is still the biggest possible feature of a (real) keyboard.

Some people probably do, I don't, half my keycaps wore off within a few months.

Re: Adaptive Hardware: Context Aware Interfaces (2013)

#37
post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Do people actually look at their keyboard when typing? I think tactile feedback is still the biggest possible feature of a (real) keyboard.

Some people probably do, I don't, half my keycaps wore off within a few months.

The programmers's war wounds.

Re: Adaptive Hardware: Context Aware Interfaces (2013)

#38

Why not expand the conventional laptop trackpad area into a touch display?

I would guess that the problem is with the angle at which you would have to bend your neck to look over there. But it would be interesting to see a laptop with two integrated touch screens and the keyboard in between the two.
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