Touch is NOT the "near" future of computing. Keyboard & mouse is.

legacy7955

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To all those who keep on spouting the talking point that "touch" is the future of computing...
In fact is clearly is NOT. At least for the next half century is isn't.

As far as we can tell NOTHING is more efficient than the traditional keyboard and mouse for entering data, it is indisputable.

Perhaps in the following century there will be bionics that will allow those that want to compromise their bodies to use mere thought to transfer that data to a computer, but that is too far down the road to be concerned with now and even the near future, until then the rational, logical and practical issues mean that touch will not be the future except for playing with games or light texting on an WinPhone or Tablet.
 

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In 50 years, the keyboard will still remain. The mouse won't. We've been using a QWERTY keyboard since the age of type writers. We've used computers with a keyboard until the mouse came into the game more than 25 years ago. It's not going to last a long time because if you have a UI that takes advantage of touch input, much like how the GUI took advantage of the mouse, it's gone. Not only that, there's gesture input as well...

Call it a change to how we interact with our PCs...
 

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In 50 years, the keyboard will still remain. The mouse won't. We've been using a QWERTY keyboard since the age of type writers. We've used computers with a keyboard until the mouse came into the game more than 25 years ago. It's not going to last a long time because if you have a UI that takes advantage of touch input, much like how the GUI took advantage of the mouse, it's gone. Not only that, there's gesture input as well...

Call it a change to how we interact with our PCs...

I can tell you as an experienced user that I detest the touch pads on lap tops because they do not give the positive feel that a mouse/scroll wheel gives. The tactile feel of the touch pad is inferior. It is less ergonomic, that cannot be disputed.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    win 7 home premium 64 bit
In 50 years, the keyboard will still remain. The mouse won't. We've been using a QWERTY keyboard since the age of type writers. We've used computers with a keyboard until the mouse came into the game more than 25 years ago. It's not going to last a long time because if you have a UI that takes advantage of touch input, much like how the GUI took advantage of the mouse, it's gone. Not only that, there's gesture input as well...

Call it a change to how we interact with our PCs...

As long as people need to type, physical keyboards and mice will remain the predominant interface, because touch is too imprecise to be useful except for the coarsest gestures, a consideration that also severely constrains design of all these stupid Metro "apps". I love my iPod Touch, but I despise trying to write anything on it, because the experience is so miserable. I cannot reliably select text with my finger, which is child's play when using a keyboard or mouse. And that miserable experience occurs on a device whose form factor is ideal for touch, which in general is a real pleasure to use. (An iPad is not much better WRT typing.) It can only be worse on a desktop or laptop due to the awkward position of the user relative to the screen. And legacy is right about trackpads; they are miserable to use. They're better than nothing, but not by much.
 

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In 50 years, the keyboard will still remain. The mouse won't. We've been using a QWERTY keyboard since the age of type writers. We've used computers with a keyboard until the mouse came into the game more than 25 years ago. It's not going to last a long time because if you have a UI that takes advantage of touch input, much like how the GUI took advantage of the mouse, it's gone. Not only that, there's gesture input as well...

Call it a change to how we interact with our PCs...

I can tell you as an experienced user that I detest the touch pads on lap tops because they do not give the positive feel that a mouse/scroll wheel gives. The tactile feel of the touch pad is inferior. It is less ergonomic, that cannot be disputed.

I don't find touch pads less ergonomic. I can dispute that. I've done a lot with touch pads from using it for a picture password for Windows 8, navigating it, and even FPS shooter games. I find they work. I guess it's a matter or preference...
 

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System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
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    AMD FX 8320
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    Keyboard
    Logitech K750 wireless solar powered keyboard
    Mouse
    Microsoft Touch Mouse
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender, but I might go back on KIS 2014
In 50 years, the keyboard will still remain. The mouse won't. We've been using a QWERTY keyboard since the age of type writers. We've used computers with a keyboard until the mouse came into the game more than 25 years ago. It's not going to last a long time because if you have a UI that takes advantage of touch input, much like how the GUI took advantage of the mouse, it's gone. Not only that, there's gesture input as well...

Call it a change to how we interact with our PCs...

As long as people need to type, physical keyboards and mice will remain the predominant interface, because touch is too imprecise to be useful except for the coarsest gestures, a consideration that also severely constrains design of all these stupid Metro "apps". I love my iPod Touch, but I despise trying to write anything on it, because the experience is so miserable. I cannot reliably select text with my finger, which is child's play when using a keyboard or mouse. And that miserable experience occurs on a device whose form factor is ideal for touch, which in general is a real pleasure to use. (An iPad is not much better WRT typing.) It can only be worse on a desktop or laptop due to the awkward position of the user relative to the screen. And legacy is right about trackpads; they are miserable to use. They're better than nothing, but not by much.

Interesting. I can type an essay, literally, on my phone and not have it such a miserable experience. The only issues I have are some spelling errors that I later correct when I finish said essay on my PC.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS
    CPU
    AMD FX 8320
    Motherboard
    Crosshair V Formula-Z
    Memory
    16 gig DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS R9 270
    Screen Resolution
    1440x900
    Hard Drives
    1 TB Seagate Barracuda (starting to hate Seagate)
    x2 3 TB Toshibas
    Windows 8.1 is installed on a SanDisk Ultra Plus 256 GB
    PSU
    OCZ 500 watt
    Case
    A current work in progres as I'll be building the physical case myself. It shall be fantastic.
    Cooling
    Arctic Cooler with 3 heatpipes
    Keyboard
    Logitech K750 wireless solar powered keyboard
    Mouse
    Microsoft Touch Mouse
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender, but I might go back on KIS 2014
Interesting. I can type an essay, literally, on my phone and not have it such a miserable experience. The only issues I have are some spelling errors that I later correct when I finish said essay on my PC.


LOL....Cokey...are you for real? Unless that phone is a Blackberry with a physical keyboard.:roflmao:
 

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Interesting. I can type an essay, literally, on my phone and not have it such a miserable experience. The only issues I have are some spelling errors that I later correct when I finish said essay on my PC.


LOL....Cokey...are you for real? Unless that phone is a Blackberry with a physical keyboard.:roflmao:

Nope, I'm fo' real! :thumbsup: I can't use a physical keyboard because it's so tedious and slow and I'm not always sure if I hit the correct key. I speed type on my phone in landscape mode and not portrait, like Blackberries. That's probably the only way to do that is in portrait mode. But with a touch screen, I fly right through the letters! I've legitimately typed a couple pages worth of text on my phone (I have a Windows Phone 7 that has Office 2010 built in) and carried that over to my PC and fixed things I got wrong. Yes, I'm not always accurate, but I'm usually pretty good. And yes, I use a physical, tactile, wireless, solar paneled keyboard on my PC. :)
 

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System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
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    CPU
    AMD FX 8320
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    Crosshair V Formula-Z
    Memory
    16 gig DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS R9 270
    Screen Resolution
    1440x900
    Hard Drives
    1 TB Seagate Barracuda (starting to hate Seagate)
    x2 3 TB Toshibas
    Windows 8.1 is installed on a SanDisk Ultra Plus 256 GB
    PSU
    OCZ 500 watt
    Case
    A current work in progres as I'll be building the physical case myself. It shall be fantastic.
    Cooling
    Arctic Cooler with 3 heatpipes
    Keyboard
    Logitech K750 wireless solar powered keyboard
    Mouse
    Microsoft Touch Mouse
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender, but I might go back on KIS 2014
Interesting. I can type an essay, literally, on my phone and not have it such a miserable experience. The only issues I have are some spelling errors that I later correct when I finish said essay on my PC.


LOL....Cokey...are you for real? Unless that phone is a Blackberry with a physical keyboard.:roflmao:

Legacy, I don't know what medication you're on, but you need to up the dosage or get off it altogether. Mate you need to walk around any Capital city around the world and tell me how many people you see walking around carrying a Core I7 PC with a 24inch screen texting their friends. When you see some take a video and post it onto this forum.
What you will see are thousands of people with mobile phones and tablets with touch screens texting like crazy, some people can type faster with their thumbs on a touch screen than people with a keyboard.
I doubt that you will ever drag yourself out of the past by the sound of it, but millions of people already have and many more millions will. I type on a touch screen every day, while I certainly can't claim 90 WMP I'm doing okay.
Just give up on the anti touch it doesn't sound too good in this day and age, people are moving on, I'm typing this on a touch screen. I agree 100% that the keyboard and mouse aren't going anywhere, but having the ability to use both is a great step forward.
 

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Legacy, you seem quite fond of saying things are "indisputable", when in fact they are not. It may be indisputable in your mind, but that is only because you cannot imagine how people could function without a keyboard or mouse.

It may be true that keyboard and mouse are the most efficient today, at least from a human input device perspective (there are lots of other ways to input data that are not direct HID). Part of the problem is that current touch devices do not give tactile feedback. However, that's a function of the impreciseness of said devices and your uncertain that any action you take actually registered. If you were confident that any action took was recorded, exactly as you intended it to be, then no feedback is necessary.

I do not see it being 50 years before such input devices are practical and common place. At most 20.

Having said that, however, I see kids that can type on a 12-key phone faster than I can on a keyboard (and i'm pretty fast). I've seen kids type on thumb keyboards even faster. I've seen people using Swype and similar technologies that can keep up with conversations. It's all a matter of training oneself on the right technology.
 

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In 50 years, the keyboard will still remain. The mouse won't. We've been using a QWERTY keyboard since the age of type writers. We've used computers with a keyboard until the mouse came into the game more than 25 years ago. It's not going to last a long time because if you have a UI that takes advantage of touch input, much like how the GUI took advantage of the mouse, it's gone. Not only that, there's gesture input as well...

Call it a change to how we interact with our PCs...


While I agree with everything else you have said in this post, I disagree that the mouse won't remain in 50 years. I'm sure it will take the back seat to the touch screens but I will be surprised if it will be gone. I'm 21 years old and hate using the touch feature except for on my phone. Not to mention I tend to work faster using a mouse than a touchscreen and find the experience of using a mouse more enjoyable. I'm willing to bet im not the only one that feels the same.
 

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It is not that touchscreens don't have their place, they do... but they are limited. Fine for texting on the go, when folks are at home or at work, the two places where the vast majority spend the majority of their time, folks won't be reaching for touch devices, they will turn to their comfortable work stations, the family pc and/or laptops. And no amount of hyperbole will change that.
 

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I don't know why this was even brought up.

Coke Robot is only a child - but even he must see a touchscreen is useful for some things and not useful for other things.

Touchscreen will not replace the mouse and keyboard.

It will be an option.
 

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I don't know why this was even brought up.

Coke Robot is only a child - but even he must see a touchscreen is useful for some things and not useful for other things.

Touchscreen will not replace the mouse and keyboard.

It will be an option.

But the mouse it will.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS
    CPU
    AMD FX 8320
    Motherboard
    Crosshair V Formula-Z
    Memory
    16 gig DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS R9 270
    Screen Resolution
    1440x900
    Hard Drives
    1 TB Seagate Barracuda (starting to hate Seagate)
    x2 3 TB Toshibas
    Windows 8.1 is installed on a SanDisk Ultra Plus 256 GB
    PSU
    OCZ 500 watt
    Case
    A current work in progres as I'll be building the physical case myself. It shall be fantastic.
    Cooling
    Arctic Cooler with 3 heatpipes
    Keyboard
    Logitech K750 wireless solar powered keyboard
    Mouse
    Microsoft Touch Mouse
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender, but I might go back on KIS 2014
I don't know why this was even brought up.

Coke Robot is only a child - but even he must see a touchscreen is useful for some things and not useful for other things.

Touchscreen will not replace the mouse and keyboard.

It will be an option.
I may be a child...a child of technology that is. :D
 

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System One

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    CPU
    AMD FX 8320
    Motherboard
    Crosshair V Formula-Z
    Memory
    16 gig DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS R9 270
    Screen Resolution
    1440x900
    Hard Drives
    1 TB Seagate Barracuda (starting to hate Seagate)
    x2 3 TB Toshibas
    Windows 8.1 is installed on a SanDisk Ultra Plus 256 GB
    PSU
    OCZ 500 watt
    Case
    A current work in progres as I'll be building the physical case myself. It shall be fantastic.
    Cooling
    Arctic Cooler with 3 heatpipes
    Keyboard
    Logitech K750 wireless solar powered keyboard
    Mouse
    Microsoft Touch Mouse
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender, but I might go back on KIS 2014
I don't think the mouse will be gone but I do think touch will be more used. The thing is touch is not as precise. I don't know if they have improved multi-touch gestures of the trackpad for windows based computers but that would be helpful. I don't know of stylus/pen is supported but I would rather use that than touch. On a tablet touch is much easier to use but when it comes to the desktop you'd have to be much closer to the screen to use it and it feels inconvenient for more complex computing. Checking email and photo taking maybe it could be fun, but that's pretty minor. I have used a touch screen computer although I don't own one myself but the use is far too limited. I think if I really wanted to get close to it I would be designing something and I would need the computer to be able to be laid down or something. I don't mind touch and I will use it but not if I'm trying to design or any serious work. I would probably use it for doodling but that's about it. It's not that accurate. I wouldn't mind stylus support though but then I'd have to be able to angle the screen and be super close. I don't know if I would want to be too close to the screen though.
 

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I never said that touch screens weren't useful for brief texting, as a matter of fact I posted just this comment on one of these threads, but I can promise you that if you asked most people, young and old if they have to type serious amounts of text accurately and quickly they will almost all say the real keyboard works best, unless they are lying of course.

There is NO way that touch screen keyboards are easier to use for intense data entry. Fact, no disputing it at least for human beings anyhow.

Same for mouse vs trackpads....if you are doing a LOT of data input the mouse is far superior.

I have to give credit to those desperately trying to twist reality to become otherwise, but logic and reason cannot be denied, even today.


Cute...the insinuation that I take meds...I take no pharma or illegal drugs of any kind. Ibuprofen or aspirin on rare occasion. :rolleyes:
 

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I don't think the mouse will be gone but I do think touch will be more used. The thing is touch is not as precise. I don't know if they have improved multi-touch gestures of the trackpad for windows based computers but that would be helpful. I don't know of stylus/pen is supported but I would rather use that than touch. On a tablet touch is much easier to use but when it comes to the desktop you'd have to be much closer to the screen to use it and it feels inconvenient for more complex computing. Checking email and photo taking maybe it could be fun, but that's pretty minor. I have used a touch screen computer although I don't own one myself but the use is far too limited. I think if I really wanted to get close to it I would be designing something and I would need the computer to be able to be laid down or something. I don't mind touch and I will use it but not if I'm trying to design or any serious work. I would probably use it for doodling but that's about it. It's not that accurate. I wouldn't mind stylus support though but then I'd have to be able to angle the screen and be super close. I don't know if I would want to be too close to the screen though.

Pen input will be supported, as it has been since I believe xp. I personally would use that in the Desktop for precise precision. As a person going into architecture, one does a lot of hand drafting, I've been doing that A LOT more than CAD drawing. I can't envision and draw something with a mouse, I can however with a pencil. I would use a table top touch screen with a stylus to draw, and to use the Ribbon UI and all that.
 

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System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
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    ASUS
    CPU
    AMD FX 8320
    Motherboard
    Crosshair V Formula-Z
    Memory
    16 gig DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS R9 270
    Screen Resolution
    1440x900
    Hard Drives
    1 TB Seagate Barracuda (starting to hate Seagate)
    x2 3 TB Toshibas
    Windows 8.1 is installed on a SanDisk Ultra Plus 256 GB
    PSU
    OCZ 500 watt
    Case
    A current work in progres as I'll be building the physical case myself. It shall be fantastic.
    Cooling
    Arctic Cooler with 3 heatpipes
    Keyboard
    Logitech K750 wireless solar powered keyboard
    Mouse
    Microsoft Touch Mouse
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender, but I might go back on KIS 2014
It is not that touchscreens don't have their place, they do... but they are limited. Fine for texting on the go, when folks are at home or at work, the two places where the vast majority spend the majority of their time, folks won't be reaching for touch devices, they will turn to their comfortable work stations, the family pc and/or laptops. And no amount of hyperbole will change that.

Totally wrong, while I still use my main PC a fair bit, my laptops less and less, I find I reach for my tablets more and more. They are instantly on, I can find what I want almost immediately with Apps. I can type on forums etc easily, I can doodle and draw with my finger or stylus and play Angry Birds, what's not to like about touchscreens.

The keyboard and mouse aren't going to be replaced altogether but they will be used less and less, especially when the wonderfully beautifull and productive Windows 8 unleashes on to our wonderful planet :)
 

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It is not that touchscreens don't have their place, they do... but they are limited. Fine for texting on the go, when folks are at home or at work, the two places where the vast majority spend the majority of their time, folks won't be reaching for touch devices, they will turn to their comfortable work stations, the family pc and/or laptops. And no amount of hyperbole will change that.

Totally wrong,

Sorry, but no, I am not totally wrong, not even a little wrong. Even the ones who use touch a lot now, when they are on the go, will tend to gravitate to the far more physically comfortable mouse and keyboard.



The keyboard and mouse aren't going to be replaced altogether but they will be used less and less, especially when the wonderfully beautifull and productive Windows 8 unleashes on to our wonderful planet :)

Again, no. Ms's push to get into the smartphone & tablet market will ultimately fail, as Apple & Android will continue to dominate, despite ms's best effort. In the meantime, they will have alienated their core, most of whom despise the metro nonsense. Mark my words, win9 will see ms retreat at least insofar as offering a choice, a real choice between metroturd and desktop.

Wanna guess which will sell more..?? (although they most likely be sold as one, with the choice coming at install)

But hey, this is all imho....:thumbsup:
 

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