But again, if it's just a matter of getting used to it, why do keyboards have those little bumps on the f, j, and numpad 5 keys? Those little bumps exist for a reason. Technology already exists to manufacture perfectly flat keyboards. But they haven't caught on. If you think touch screens are the wave of the future, you first need to explain why flat panel keyboards haven't caught on and then you have to explain why every keyboard in existance has those extra little bumps on the f, j and numpad 5 keys.
I think those 2 facts... That flat keyboards haven't caught on and that even conventional keyboards have extra tactile cluse on them show that people prefer a keyboard they can operate tactilly. I suppose that eventually, people may sacrifice the feel of a keyboard for the benefits provided by a touch screen. But I wouldn't count on it. Most likely, there will always be a way to connect a keyboard if you want it. ----- Original Message ----- From: "David Denne" <dvdde...@gmail.com> To: <macvisionaries@googlegroups.com> Sent: Friday, December 04, 2009 7:42 PM Subject: Re: no mac for blind people in Belgium >I think that if you get a touch screen device of any kind really it's > just something to get use to. > > On 12/4/09, Scott Howell <scottn3...@gmail.com> wrote: >> Secretary? Do they really even have such creatures or even call them >> secretaries? :) Seems the secretary role has changed significantly over >> the >> years. However, to keep this somewhat on topic, the written word is >> likely >> not to go anywhere any time soon. :) I have heard of various systems >> people >> have been developing, including a hat you could ware that would basically >> interpret brain waves and Apple has even filed a patent on a technology >> to >> capture/decode facial movements. Interesting times are ahead for sure. >> >> On Dec 4, 2009, at 5:45 PM, John G. Heim wrote: >> >>> Yeah, as long as we continue to deal with the written word, I don't know >>> how >>> normal keyboards can go away. Human beings are designed to do things >>> with >>> their fingers. >>> >>> I'm not poo-pooing technology. I think it won't be long until we all >>> have >>> telepathy. They already have sound systems that can be set up so that >>> only >>> >>> you can hear them. They actually cause the bones of your skull to >>> vibrate >>> and since everybody's skull is different, only you can hear it. They >>> also >>> have devices that allow you to think a word and the computer recognizes >>> it. >>> So if you think "call mom" it knows. When those technologies mature to >>> the >>> >>> point where they can go on an iphone, you'll essentially have telepathy. >>> >>> But businesses still deal primarily with the written word. There used to >>> be >>> very efficient voice recognition systems in every work place -- they >>> were >>> called secretaries. Remember how in the old movies bosses called their >>> secretary in to dictate a letter? Nobody does that any more, they fire >>> off >>> >>> an email. To some degree that is because of cost. But mainly it's >>> because >>> >>> it's more efficient to compose an email yourself than to have your >>> secretary >>> compose it for you. >>> ----- Original Message ----- >>> From: "Scott Howell" <scottn3...@gmail.com> >>> To: <macvisionaries@googlegroups.com> >>> Sent: Friday, December 04, 2009 12:48 PM >>> Subject: Re: no mac for blind people in Belgium >>> >>> >>> John, that is true and in talking to a friend of mine who has really >>> taken >>> >>> to the iPhone as I have and he is sighted, has also said that having >>> some >>> sort of tactile feedback would be preferred. I have to agree, it would >>> seem >>> and this is purely my own opinion, but not having some sort of feedback >>> would feel really odd and abrupt on the fingers.. >>> On Dec 4, 2009, at 1:19 PM, John G. Heim wrote: >>> >>>> I wouldn't count on the traditional style keyboard going out any time >>>> soon. >>>> The technology to make a perfectly flat keyboard has been available for >>>> many >>>> years. You probably have a perfectly flat control panel on your >>>> microwave >>>> oven. It hasn't caught on for keyboards because people like being able >>>> to >>>> feel the keys. Most keyboards even have extra bumps on the f, j, and >>>> numpad >>>> 5 keys so people can find them easier. >>>> >>>> I just bought a mini USP keyboard from the Apple Store. Its way flatter >>>> than >>>> a regular keyboard but its not perfectly flat like a touch screen. You >>>> might >>>> ask yourself why Apple didn't manufacture this keyboard like the >>>> control >>>> panel on a microwave oven. Actually, keyboards like that are available. >>>> But >>>> generally, you don't see them because people don't like them. >>>> >>>> ----- Original Message ----- >>>> From: "Mark BurningHawk Baxter" <markbaxte...@gmail.com> >>>> To: <macvisionaries@googlegroups.com> >>>> Sent: Friday, December 04, 2009 10:38 AM >>>> Subject: Re: no mac for blind people in Belgium >>>> >>>> >>>>> Keyboard, or touch-input alphanumerical devices, sure, but they'll be >>>>> touch screen or nonstandard shapes and sizes; it behooves the blind >>>>> person, I think, to get used to the fact and start breaking away from >>>>> traditional QWERTY; I never learned DVORAK or any other of the >>>>> keyboard configurations, but I'm betting the standard typewriter >>>>> interface will come to an extinction soon. >>>>> >>>>> -- >>>>> >>>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>>>> Groups >>>>> "MacVisionaries" group. >>>>> To post to this group, send email to macvisionar...@googlegroups.com. >>>>> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >>>>> macvisionaries+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. >>>>> For more options, visit this group at >>>>> http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>> >>>> -- >>>> >>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>>> Groups >>>> >>>> "MacVisionaries" group. >>>> To post to this group, send email to macvisionar...@googlegroups.com. >>>> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >>>> macvisionaries+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. >>>> For more options, visit this group at >>>> http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en. >>>> >>>> >>> >>> -- >>> >>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>> Groups >>> "MacVisionaries" group. >>> To post to this group, send email to macvisionar...@googlegroups.com. >>> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >>> macvisionaries+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. >>> For more options, visit this group at >>> http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en. >>> >>> >>> >>> -- >>> >>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>> Groups >>> "MacVisionaries" group. >>> To post to this group, send email to macvisionar...@googlegroups.com. >>> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >>> macvisionaries+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. >>> For more options, visit this group at >>> http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en. >>> >>> >> >> -- >> >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "MacVisionaries" group. >> To post to this group, send email to macvisionar...@googlegroups.com. >> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >> macvisionaries+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. >> For more options, visit this group at >> http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en. >> >> >> > > -- > > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "MacVisionaries" group. > To post to this group, send email to macvisionar...@googlegroups.com. > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > macvisionaries+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en. > > > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "MacVisionaries" group. 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