Very true. That said, buttons do still exist for now, and there are quite
a few people, not just blind people either, who prefer buttons. I wouldn't
be surprised if either a hybrid becomes the norm, or a few devices remain
which have buttons. This phenomenon is particularly prevalent in the auto
industry. Touch screens are taking over, but both Consumer's Reports, and
many drivers do not like them, and they aren't always the best solution in
all situations. Touch screens are the new kids on the block, and as with
many innovations, that form factor is having sway, but we really don't
know what will be the eventual outcome. It could be something completely
different from touch screens or push buttons such as magnetic resonance
thought control, or something else. Never try and exactly predict the
future as you will be wrong.
Interesting discussion.
Bill
-----Original Message-----
From: Visually Impaired Computer Users' Group List
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of David Chittenden
Sent: Friday, June 06, 2014 6:44 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [VICUG-L] From My Blog/My response to the braille Monitor
Article About the iPhone
No matter how much a few people complain, as with GUI replacing DOS, the
touchscreen will replace the non-active screen and physical buttons.
In every sector studied, systems / kiosks / devices with touchscreen
displays and well-designed user interfaces reduce errors and customer
service calls from 15%-20% to 3%-5% as compared with non-interactive
displays coupled with physical controls such as buttons. In addition, as
of 2011, it is now less expensive for manufacturers to purchase
touchscreen displays than non-interactive displays with physical controls.
David Chittenden, MSc, MRCAA
Email: [log in to unmask]
Mobile: +64 21 2288 288
Sent from my iPhone
> On 6 Jun 2014, at 8:26, [log in to unmask] wrote:
>
> David,
>
> You make some really good points about Mr. Chong's article. But I also
> agree with Christopher when he says he did not find it nearly so
objectionable.
>
> There are plainly many folks who just have trouble with some of these
> things, like the IPhone, and the Android phone.
> I may or may not be one of them.
>
> Personally, I am trying to be objective about this whole era we are
> finding ourselves in, with the new technology as to the telephone. I
> am with my first ever Android device about a month now. I do not have
> to be good all at once with it, and am learning. And while there are
> amazing things about it, as a phone, my old clamshell flip phone is
> hands down more convenient to just pull out from my pocket and place
> my call. Trouble is the display is completely inaccessible, but the
> voice dialing (described in an earlier post I made) is not on any other
phone yet.
>
> A while back you were reminiscing about the old DOS computers, before
> Windows and Macs took over. I sort of liken this revolution to that
> time. I really got pretty confident using DOS. Then everything flipped
> into GUI land, and we all had to get our mouse pointer cursors and what
not.
>
> But on another aspect, it is the social aspects of these things that
> bothers me. No one is talking to one another anymore. People are on
> the street, just about running me over as I am walking with a cane,
> sometimes I think they are saying something to me, but no, they are
> walking right up to and around me, preoccupied with themselves,
> talking on their phones. And for that matter, the same bunch of folks
> might well be going to run one of us over as they drive an automobile,
> or even a bicycle while being inattentive with the vehicle they are
supposed to be in control of.
>
> I sort of really miss the phone booth.
> I mean, now where do I have to go to change in to my Superman costume!
> So yes, I just get cranky. Maybe it is being 61 years of age, and
> wondering when the learning curve will start to straighten me out.
>
> And when I am in a bit of a foul mood about the touch screen, I ask
> myself, how can it be that the simple buttons such as we have on
> devices like the Humanware Victor Stream or any number of other real
> hardware devices that uses real buttons, really logically not be a
> better idea than this touch screen gesture navigation, so called
innovation? I want not to have to fight with a communication device.
>
> Plus, have you read how much harm has come from the exploitation to
acquire the rare elements to make touch screen technology? Somewhere in
the Congo in Africa, I think, thousands of indigenous peoples moved or
assailed to get this material. Makes me feel kind of guilty even holding
the thing.
>
> Sorry for such a long piece. But I really welcome the debate and the
many points I get to be hearing through this discussion group.
>
> This is probably some sort of transitional period.
> I look for the joy, and I look for what I want. I guess we all do.
> I hope that some of this makes some sense to someone.
>
> Rik James
>
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