uxmelina

If I had it my way!

Not the Tablet

One major drawback to a touch screen is that the user’s own input device (figure, hand, etc) obstructs the very interface objects they are trying to interact with. This fact, coupled with egonomics of how a user would hold an e-reader-targeted tablet (if the rumors are true), makes the on screen traditional keyboard even more awkward.

Imagine relaxing on your couch reading some online blog/book/site and you are promted to type something (a note in the margin, a password, a search term). You are then presented with the mock up. What do you do? Awkwardly hold the super thin device with one hand, stabalizing it with your stomach and typing with one hand? I hope not!

If this use case is intended to be supported on the currently-imaginary device, I’m thinking (ok, hoping) Apple has something cool up their sleeves.  Here are a few alternatives that could have been considered:

Touch Everywhere: Touch sensors that extend beyond the screen (sides, back, etc) could actually put “controls at your finger tips”, regardless of where your hands are holding the device. Controls on the back also lend it self providing tactile feedback, but that’s a whole other blog post.

Alternate input device: A stylus seems like an appropriate input to a tablet, and does only require 1 hand to use. Drawbacks include speed of input, but that could be addressed with really good recognition software.

Although, I think it’s likely their will be a stylus, I’m really hoping for the first alternative. Kind of like how the magic mouse brought touch sensors to the surface of the mouse, I don’t think alternative #1 is too crazy. Thoughts>