Re: [NTLK] [OT] Jackito

From: Joel M. Sciamma (joel_at_inventors-emporium.co.uk)
Date: Tue Jul 13 2004 - 12:49:03 PDT


George,

> While slashdotting, I came across this which may be of interest to
> Newtoneers...

It's an interesting device from the HW point of view but it follows exactly
the current philosophy that critically undermines its usefulness - no
realistic data capture capability.

Even if the keys were rearranged as a QWERTY, trying to take notes in a
meeting is going to be hilarious. Setting the cursor position in a block of
text or making selections will be big fun with just your thumbs. Any
editable field will require the kybd to obliterate half the screen - oh
dear.

All this device really allows you to do is interact more directly with
existing objects of various kinds but writing, drawing or any significant
interaction with your data - forget it.

The shame about this is that it bolsters the prevalent idea that a PDA is a
passive thing - a smart dongle for a larger computer. Because the
HWR/gestural tech is missing, the entire device falls back to a lower
potential and the justifications for its existance follow logically from
that.

Keep trying boys...

Joel.

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