The idea does make sense. I think what might prevent good adoption of something like this is the precision of a task... particularly in changing channels.
Changing the volume of something doesn't require a high degree of precision. If you're off by 1 or 2 values, there's a level of error that people are willing to accept. I can see the same being said of changing values for hue, color, saturation, etc... However, the same doesn't apply to changing channels, where precision is extremely important. Missing a channel by more than is intended probably has a lower tolerance threshold than the other functions. If we were to ignore the precision aspect of changing channels, then other things need to be modified in order to improve the experience, like the time necessary to tune into a station. My general experience is that flatpanels and HDTVs seem to be slower to respond to changing channels than their old analog counterparts. If this is the case, then while the input control may have been improved, general experience won't be due to performance reasons. Sony had done something similar for some of their devices. It was used in a variety of ways, but I can't think of a Sony remote that ever used it for channel selection. It was on digital cameras, video cameras and on their PDA... on my old Clie, I don't ever remember using it... There might be some resistance to using this input device because "people are used to" standardized input interfaces. Unless they're forced to use a single selection methodology, it might be difficult to increase its acceptance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=36646 ________________________________________________________________ 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
