> The answer already exists. Chorded, handheld keyboards.
This answer has existed for over a decade; the fact that it hasn't come to pass means it's not the right answer. I had a Frogpad with my wearable, for example. Carrying around an extra piece of equipment is a pain in the ass.
I'll quote myself here:
> Another device to carry in your pocket solely for input
isn't going to improve that, it's going to make that worse.
> It's awkward to whip out a keypad to enter a new appointment or type a note compared to writing it on a piece of paper. I think the only general incentive to carry a dedicated input device around would be universal applicability: that keyboard would have to be good for every device out there, including ATMs.
The bit about automatic privacy and rights granting is interesting, but these have to be explicit social behaviors, not things your computers do behind your back.
I do agree with the driving bit: forcibly not letting people do something stupid is alright with me.
A frogpad like keyboard isn't exactly what I was referring to. Maybe I should have clarified in the article, but I meant the kind that strap on to your hand. With advances in technology it could be easy to make that smaller and less obtrusive than they have been in the past. As someone who had a wearable I'd love to hear your thoughts on Glass etc.
Either way, variations have been around for over ten years, and the same problem remains: you're carrying around an extra thing solely for input. You can't wear it in every situation; with a suit, on the beach, in 110 degree weather, when it's raining, etc., and you can't use it for anything else but the rest of the device.
MP3 players didn't take off before the iPod because normal people don't like carrying around a bunch of doohickies, and so cell phones won out over MP3 players. People carried around an iPod along with their cell phone because it also served as fashion accessory and status symbol, until the iPhone finally made it unnecessary to have two devices. It's the only time in portable electronics history that normal people have willingly toted around multiple gizmos; traditionally, there's a one-gadget limit. I make this same argument six years ago here: http://www.eyetap.org/wearables/wear-hard-06/2006494.html
3 comments
[ 3.0 ms ] story [ 20.8 ms ] threadThis answer has existed for over a decade; the fact that it hasn't come to pass means it's not the right answer. I had a Frogpad with my wearable, for example. Carrying around an extra piece of equipment is a pain in the ass.
I'll quote myself here:
> Another device to carry in your pocket solely for input isn't going to improve that, it's going to make that worse.
> It's awkward to whip out a keypad to enter a new appointment or type a note compared to writing it on a piece of paper. I think the only general incentive to carry a dedicated input device around would be universal applicability: that keyboard would have to be good for every device out there, including ATMs.
The bit about automatic privacy and rights granting is interesting, but these have to be explicit social behaviors, not things your computers do behind your back.
I do agree with the driving bit: forcibly not letting people do something stupid is alright with me.
Like: http://www.ikey.com/industries/military/ak-39.html
Or like: http://www.keyglove.net/
Or something else?
Either way, variations have been around for over ten years, and the same problem remains: you're carrying around an extra thing solely for input. You can't wear it in every situation; with a suit, on the beach, in 110 degree weather, when it's raining, etc., and you can't use it for anything else but the rest of the device.
MP3 players didn't take off before the iPod because normal people don't like carrying around a bunch of doohickies, and so cell phones won out over MP3 players. People carried around an iPod along with their cell phone because it also served as fashion accessory and status symbol, until the iPhone finally made it unnecessary to have two devices. It's the only time in portable electronics history that normal people have willingly toted around multiple gizmos; traditionally, there's a one-gadget limit. I make this same argument six years ago here: http://www.eyetap.org/wearables/wear-hard-06/2006494.html
I posted a bunch in this other thread, if you're interested: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4993498