It's on the tip of my tongue...
From Fwuffydragon's journal, an article from New Scientist:
Write off the cuff
German electronics company Infineon Technologies reckons the main reason wearable computers have yet to take off is that there is no simple way to use a keyboard for text entry. The solution, according to Infineon, is to fit a keyboard into a jacket during manufacture.
Fwuffydragon suggested a handbag-mounted PDA and keyboard, but handbags just aren't me. Besides, you're all using your laptop cases as handbags anyway.
Where else could you fit a keyboard? STOP SNIGGERING AT THE BACK It occurred to me that the human tongue is far more mobile (and sensitive) than your fingertips, and you're pretty much OK with the idea of having bits of metal on and in your teeth...
A keyboard? OK, maybe not the full QWERTY. But, at the very least, it should be possible to put a pinhead RFID chip in the tip of your tongue and four receivers in 'fillings' behind your front teeth. Thats a pretty good pointing device.
Your ideas, people?
I bet it's already been done for people with severe disabilities. I just wish that eye-trackers weren't so damned expensive and difficult to use. But I really do think that the conventional mouse, with its limitations and attendant RSI problems, is looking a bit outdated. They've been in widespread use for twenty years and that's a long, long time in our industry.
Write off the cuff
German electronics company Infineon Technologies reckons the main reason wearable computers have yet to take off is that there is no simple way to use a keyboard for text entry. The solution, according to Infineon, is to fit a keyboard into a jacket during manufacture.
Fwuffydragon suggested a handbag-mounted PDA and keyboard, but handbags just aren't me. Besides, you're all using your laptop cases as handbags anyway.
Where else could you fit a keyboard? STOP SNIGGERING AT THE BACK It occurred to me that the human tongue is far more mobile (and sensitive) than your fingertips, and you're pretty much OK with the idea of having bits of metal on and in your teeth...
A keyboard? OK, maybe not the full QWERTY. But, at the very least, it should be possible to put a pinhead RFID chip in the tip of your tongue and four receivers in 'fillings' behind your front teeth. Thats a pretty good pointing device.
Your ideas, people?
I bet it's already been done for people with severe disabilities. I just wish that eye-trackers weren't so damned expensive and difficult to use. But I really do think that the conventional mouse, with its limitations and attendant RSI problems, is looking a bit outdated. They've been in widespread use for twenty years and that's a long, long time in our industry.