Re:50 Years Later, We’re Still Living in the Xerox Alto’s World
by toast0 on Thursday March 02, 2023 @12:16PM
(#34998590)
> Touch and direct input like a stylus works much better on displays that can sit horizontal (or mostly so). No matter how good a touch interface is, people just physically can't use them for long periods on a vertical display.
Yes, and if you set up a horizontal display for a desk, you're going to end up with neck strain. You could maybe do something at an angle, like a drafting table, but probably still balancing neck and arm issues. And you'd probably need to adjust display construction to reduce the distortion from viewing it at such a high vertical angle.
Re:50 Years Later, We’re Still Living in the Xerox Alto’s World
by giantrobot on Thursday March 02, 2023 @05:33PM
(#35003040)
You're completely right. The horizontal display is only better than the vertical touch display, it's still worse than the vertical non-touch display with horizontal input devices.
The ergonomics of touch desktops don't really work. Lifting your arm (big muscle groups) and trying to manipulate fingertip sized widgets (fine motor muscles) in concert is very strenuous. There's a reason writing apologies on a chalkboard used to be punishment in schools.
For one-off activities or very short sessions it might work for some people. However the WIMP interface with its proxied inputs of a keyboard and mouse work far better for more people for longer durations.
Touch and direct input like a stylus works much better on displays that can sit horizontal (or mostly so). No matter how good a touch interface is, people just physically can't use them for long periods on a vertical display.