Put basically, the days of the mouse are rapidly coming to an end. Touchscreens offer so much more control over a UI than an abstract connection between a pointer and a mouse.
My "Idea" is not exactly a new proposal. I just want a re-imagining of the whole human input concept. The most obvious way to do this is with a touchscreen laptop / computer. This is most famously seen with the Asus EeePad Transformer. Android is a UI designed for finger interactions, but sometimes you need the quick tactile response of a keyboard for typing. This combines the best of both worlds and even gives you a trackpad if you are so inclined to use that. For the most part you will be using the Tablet portion of the setup, which is a 10 inch touchscreen, for all of your navigation purposes.
The cousin of the Transformer, the Asus EeePad Slider does away with the trackpad and leaves you with a spring loaded slide out keyboard and tilted touchscreen. Not the most practical thing to use in the everyday, but still a step in the right direction.
These computers are only that though, a step in the right direction. They are, for the most part, underpowered computer companions rather than replacements.
I hate to say it, but Android is NOT to be considered a FULL FEATURED desktop class operating system...YET. I feel like it will get there in a few more years but for now, people need WINDOWS.
Enter Windows 8. A new version designed with fingers in mind. All of your legacy applications work, as well as new finger based applications. It CAN work with a mouse, but it will be mainly for touch input.
Now that the operating system is there, back to the question of HARDWARE. The problem I have with tablets and smartphones is that my fingers get greasy and smudge the screen very easily. I heard that some company was designing a type of glass that was smudge proof, but until then the concept of a full sized 15+ inch laptop with a smudgey touchscreen just bothers me.
Then I saw the "BentoBox" computer concept and noticed it had a REALLY good idea. Touch screen for a mouse pad. The smudges on this would not interfere with screen visibility and it has far more uses than a multi-touch trackpad. It could be used to display information in a certain "non mouse mode" and while in "mouse mode" could display static information, such as a clock, weather, network connectivity, stocks, sports scores, etc. A secondary mode could use the track pad as a quicklaunch toolbox, small secondary screen for additional settings, etc. There could be many modes all toggled by a hardware key.
Once technology creates the finger-proof glass, why not have BOTH. Or you could save space and make just one touch screen. I admit traditional mice come in handy for small or detail-oriented work, so maybe some way to incorporate both would work. Maybe have a "pro" model with a touchscreen and a trackpad, and a "basic" model which is a smaller model with just a screen and keyboard. Either way works and makes use of the touchscreen technology available these days.
Again, this is not a NEW or NOVEL idea by any means. I was just using the dying trackpad on my Dell Inspiron 1525 and thought "this is bullcrap, it's 2012, why are we still using this"
So to recap
- I like hardware keyboards. Chiclet, mechanical or other, a hardware keyboard is the best way to go.
- Touch screens are very useful for broad navigation. They should be included as a tool for the majority of navigation
- for small or detail-oriented work, a traditional mouse would be good. maybe include a sort of touchscreen trackpad
Here's my VERY rough and untalented mock up in MS Paint. Enjoy
