Update

I finally seem to recall that I should also be posting updates on how the class is going in addition to my thoughts about various interfaces. We have finished a few simple homework assignments, a project, and part of a second project. The homeworks have mostly focused on using Windows Presentation Foundation. We've covered the basics of XAML and building basic backend C# code to interact with the UI elements.

The first project tracked the movement of a WiiMote by recording accelerometer values. We extracted the readings into Excel to visualize the results of different movements. We weren't required to do much else, but we became much more familiar with the WiiMote library and how to get the information we need out of the devices. I also realized how difficult it is to have the program "recognize" certain motions, like a throw. It is easy enough to tell that the controller is moving quickly, but it's certainly not easy to tell how it is being thrown (overhand, sidearm, twisted, etc).

The second project is a stroke-rehabilitation program that allows a doctor and patient to see how well the patient is able to maintain balance while getting up from a sitting position or simply maintaining a standing position. We use the Wii Balance Board to determine the patients center of gravity. We are designing an intuitive and appealing way to view the information during the test as well as a way to record the test for later review.

Mouse 2.0

Today, Microsoft unveiled their latest research mice. These new mice are intended to be used in the now-popular multi-touch world supported by phones, tablets, Surface and Windows 7. Many of these mice use cameras, like the surface, to detect finger motions on the exterior of the mouse.



Last week I argued that the standard keyboard couldn't be changed because it has been a standard for so long. While the mouse is much younger, it too has remained the same for some time. Additions like extra buttons have made the mouse more versatile and tilt-scroll wheels made certain tasks much easier. It is annoying now to have to scroll through a webpage or PDF using the actual scrollbar now that we are so used to the wheel on the mouse. Is it reasonable to believe that resizing windows using a multi-touch mouse rather than dragging the corner of a window will become the new standard?

I think it is. Yes, even after arguing that the keyboard will never change, I think that the mouse can evolve. Multi-touch devices can be designed to track very intuitive inputs. The two-finger resize gesture utilized by the iPhone and Surface simple make sense. Dragging windows with a solid click versus flicking a photo across the screen are motions that we can perform with paper on a desk, so they translate well to multi-touch computing applications.

The first mouse in the video looked promising for a general audience while some of the others looked like they could be used in niche markets. The "artsy" mouse would be great for 3-D modelers so they can "grab" and twist their designs. The side mouse looks like it could be used to complement a standard mouse when using special applications like photo editing software.It will be interesting to see which of these mice make it beyond the development stages.