The Age of Touch Computing 414
DigitalDame2 writes "In 2009, touch computing will go mainstream. More and more devices will be legitimately touch-enabled with gesture controls for browsing through photos, tossing objects around the screen, flicking to turn the page of a book, and even playing video games and watching movies. In fact, Gartner analyst Steve Prentice told the BBC recently that the mouse will be dead in three to five years. PCMag has a full look at touch computing — the past, the present, and the future — including an interview with Sabrina Boler, touch UI designer."
Mouse will be dead? (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Mouse will be dead? (Score:3, Funny)
Touch Computing?!
It just sounds so dirty... think of the STDs (Software Transmitted Disease)
Re:The mouse... (Score:5, Funny)
Also why would I want to be waving my arms at my CRT or LCD screen?
That's too much exercise. The mouse is perfect for a lazy engineer like me. I just prop my arm on the desk and move my hand left or right. I barely move at all!
Re:Mouse will be dead? (Score:5, Funny)
Yeah but boxing games will be great! Except for the whole "replacing your monitor after every session" bit.... :-D
Re:Mice are not dead (Score:3, Funny)
> Touch computing may be mainstream for handheld devices...
And that's it, of course. Since handhelds are the current trendy "technology" they are all that matter.
Re:The mouse... (Score:5, Funny)
Really! (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Stupid tech predictions (Score:4, Funny)
Cause frankly I have no clue how aiming a sniper rifle will work when you have to sight past your fingers.
If I were to program the inputs for a touch screen FPS, I'd make it so that you bring your thumb and index finger together where the person's head is visible.
"I'm crushing your head!"
2008 - The Year of Touch Computing (Score:1, Funny)
But does it run... Oh, wait.
Touchscreen Pr0n (Score:2, Funny)
Re:The mouse... (Score:3, Funny)
Also why would I want to be waving my arms at my CRT or LCD screen?
Just earlier today I was thinking about this. I believe that one possible sollution to the "gorilla arm" syndrome is to put the monitor in the place of the keyboard, and move the keyboard a bit down.
Take THAT, ergonomic viewing angles!
I for one will keep my non-touch display at a comfortable elevation while you're at the chiropractor.
Re:The mouse... (Score:5, Funny)
Yes. My 12-hour-a-day mousing exercises are why my right hand is so strong. It has nothing to do with anything else.
Nope.
Na-uh.
That's my story and I'm sticking with it.
Re:Touchscreens and Bacon don't mix (Score:1, Funny)
Well, computer nerds are known for having greasy fingers after eating a bag of potato chips/cheetos washed down with a 2 liter bottle of Shasta.
Re:The mouse... (Score:3, Funny)
Also why would I want to be waving my arms at my CRT or LCD screen?
That's too much exercise. The mouse is perfect for a lazy engineer like me. I just prop my arm on the desk and move my hand left or right. I barely move at all!
Huh, all this time I've modeled my coding on that scene in Swordfish. Maybe that's why nothing compiles.
Re:The mouse... (Score:2, Funny)
You look up when you walk? I thought all of /. would be in the camp of "look at the ground for fear that you make eye contact with another human and anger them".
Re:The mouse... (Score:3, Funny)
Based on this prediction, I predict that Gartner will be dead in three to five years.
Re:The mouse... (Score:5, Funny)
It's also much easier to get to a specific pixel / small area with a mouse than with your fat fingertip.
We're sorry, but the fingers you've used to dial are too fat. To order a magic dialing wand please mash the keypad now.
Re:The mouse... (Score:3, Funny)
They can have my Logitech Trackman Marble FX [logitech.com] when they pry it out of my cold, dead fingers.
Re:The mouse... (Score:3, Funny)
Anyway, you could have two screens. One output-only like you have now, and one touchscreen instead (or next to) the keyboard.
I already have this function. I think they call the second monitor a "track pad" or something like that.
Re:The mouse... (Score:3, Funny)
You're only supposed to move the ball, which ideally should be on top.
Re:The mouse... (Score:4, Funny)