> <Homer-Simpson look> doh! I would like touch screen on Macs too
Beside the fact that the MacOS (as well as Windoze and all others) aren't
designed for pen input a touch screen would make the work on a computer
probably again more effective than it is today. There is so many advantages
of the Newton concept over the traditional desktop computer that I wonder
why no company does any research or design in this direction.
1. The feedback between pen and cursor is much more direct than with a mouse
or tablet, provided the screen calibration is good and no jaggies occur.
Even a tablet suffers from the sort of indirect feedback via eyes and
screen.
2. For many people handwriting is still the fastest way to enter text.
3. CAD would be a piece of cake in comparison to the existing user
interfaces (e.g. AutoCAD). The Newton Works drawing shows what would be
possible.
4. Digital artwork would profit as well. Unfortunately the Newton suffered a
colour screen and anyway a much larger screen would be necessary to have a
really useful touch screen desktop.
There's disadvantages too:
The screen has possibly to be put horizontally or under a small angle onto
the desktop and would take much more space than a kbd and mouse. The screen
has to be ruggedized and water thight. Consider the damage of a cup of hot
coffee or bottle of cold beer spilled over the screen and going into the
case...
Another problem might be the reflections of the screen from the lights just
above each desk.
-- Marco-- Read the List FAQ/Etiquette: http://www.newtontalk.net/faq.html Read the Newton FAQ: http://www.guns-media.com/mirrors/newton/faq/ This is the NewtonTalk mailing list - http://www.newtontalk.net
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