|
Unforseen UMPC design issues |
|
Written by Bjorn Stromberg
|
|
Wednesday, 15 August 2007 |
|
Today was such a busy day that I couldn't even manage to post a blog entry while at the office. So here I am out at a lounge bar relaxing and typing away on my OQO. I really wanted to highlight this great recounting of Lalita's first experience with the OQO model 02. Lalita wrote:
I could hear angels singing. That is, until I tried using the mouse. It was waaay over on the right hand side. No matter what I did, I couldn't easily get my left thumb over there. Forget using my right thumb. I just didn't have the fine motor control (you try using your other hand to mouse over to something before you scratch your noggin and mutter at your screen). Other than the fact that they'd set up the form factor for a right-handed populace, it was perfection itself.
She brings up an interesting point about the design of the device, that the trackstick is on the right side and the mouse buttons are on the left. Being a rightie, I had never thought about the trouble left-handers would run into with this layout. It definitely fits perfectly into my hands and the controls all feel great. Lalita's suggestion to move the trackstick to the middle of the device, while a good idea for notebooks, just wouldn't work for the OQO. It's already a bit of a stretch for my big thumbs to reach the keys in the center of the device. Unlike notebooks, the OQO is held with your hands wrapped around the edges of the device while your thumbs poke, prod and nudge the buttons below the screen.
My suggestion for left-handers wondering what to do about the OQO is to give it a try yourself and keep in mind that you can always use a wireless (or wired) mouse or use a stylus to control the mouse. A lot of UMPC's have a trackstick on the right side, so I don't see this problem going away soon, however keep in mind all UMPC's offer multiple options for input! Now to put my OQO down and get back to relaxing.
|
|
|
Visitor
Thursday, 16 August 2007
While this wouldn't work for UMPCs with keyboards like the OQO (or even the Q1 Ultra), couldn't slate-style UMPCs simply be designed so that you could just rotate them 180 degrees, using software to flip the screen, pointer orientation, and left and right click buttons? The design would have to be relatively symmetrical - both horizontally and vertically - but it's hardly impossible. Picture rotating the original Q1, or something.
Visitor
Monday, 27 August 2007
Wouldn't using a mouse compromise the mobility of the OQO Model 02? (It's unfair that left-handed people get a compromised experience. I mean, if using a mouse was the better way to go, then why bother including a track stick at all?)
Anyways, I read her post. Despite what she says, what she really wants is a way to alleviate the blatant bias towards right-handed people. It doesn't have to be to put the trackstick to the center. If, for example, the mechanisms for the trackstick and the two buttons were removable so that one could reverse their positions, it would work just as well. (Yes, I know that wouldn't work given the current design since they aren't the same size. I'm just saying there are lots of design possibilities.)
A handed-agnostic solution would definitely give a UMPC an edge over any other.
Visitor
Tuesday, 28 August 2007
Lalita here. While alleviating the "blatant bias toward right-handed people" might be nice, it certainly wasn't my intention (so stop putting words in my mouth...it ain't sanitary or accurate). I only saw one solution--a mouse button in the keyboard's center, simply because I was looking at my laptop that--wait for it--has a mouse button in the center of the keyboard. I figured it would be easier to install and not take up much room on the OQO's small face sa two buttons would while still being easy to reach.
An interchangeable pointer system (with a programmable button on either side of the keyboard) that keeps one's fingers out from in front of the small screen would be great and, most important for OQO, would secure them sevaral more paying customers.