In another thread, Seth B said >Physically, I find the iPhone lacking because of the lack of a >keyboard. I find using a touchscreen for typing lacking.
Personal view - touchscreen devices are currently on the hype bit of the Gartner curve, and as people realise that even though the devices themselves might be very good but don't do all they expect, there will be less emphasis on them. The iPod Touch and the iPhone are cool and sexy, but are rubbish if you want to play the next track when the player is in your pocket. Devices that have tactile controls have advantages which seem to be lost in the reviews of the next new bright shiny thing. I think at present that some people will buy the devices on the basis of the hype, and then find that they don't entirely fulfill the promise. If you're not blind, and if you don't want to operate the device in your pocket, or in the dark without disturbing your partner in bed at night, then touchscreen might be great for you. I see companies producing touchscreen devices apparently on the basis of following Apple. This might make short-term commercial sense, but I wonder if it's entirely based on user needs. I've worked on touch screen check-in kiosks and in-flight entertainment, so I'm not against it per se. But I wish some of those new touch screen mp3 players had a few more tactile control counterparts. I'd very much welcome other views. (Note: I thought I posted a message like this earlier, but it appears to have disappeared). * Nick Gassman - Usability and Standards Manager - http://ba.com * ________________________________________________________________ Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ....... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe ................ http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines ............ http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .................. http://www.ixda.org/help
