fozzard@boulder.Colorado.EDU (Richard Fozzard) (01/12/90)
Has anyone out there played with the new GrIDPad - the one with a stylus that writes directly onto the LCD display (no keyboard, just handwriting recognition). This seems like the wave of the future if it can be done right. [Remember the DynaBook?] ======================================================================== Richard Fozzard "Serendipity empowers" University of Colorado/CIRES/NOAA/ERL/FSL fozzard@boulder.colorado.edu (303)497-6011 or 444-3168
g1@drivax.UUCP (Bruce Holloway) (01/13/90)
fozzard@boulder.Colorado.EDU (Richard Fozzard) writes:
#Has anyone out there played with the new GrIDPad - the one with
#a stylus that writes directly onto the LCD display (no keyboard,
#just handwriting recognition). This seems like the wave of the future
#if it can be done right. [Remember the DynaBook?]
I dunno about you, but I can type a hell of a lot faster than I can
legible write.
- Bruce
--
*******************************************************************************
* Bruce Holloway - Terminal Netnews Addict uunet!amdahl!drivax!holloway *
* ALBATROSS, ATARI*TROS @ Plink ALBATROSS @ Delphi *riehm@maccs.dcss.mcmaster.ca (Carl Riehm) (01/14/90)
In article <15545@boulder.Colorado.EDU> fozzard@boulder.Colorado.EDU (Richard Fozzard) writes: > >Has anyone out there played with the new GrIDPad - the one with >a stylus that writes directly onto the LCD display (no keyboard, >just handwriting recognition). This seems like the wave of the future Are you serious in saying that this is the wave of the future? If you are a hunt and peck artist at the keyboard I can understand this I suppose, but for the rest of us??? I think it's just a gimmick, at least for most users. Carl Riehm.
pubtendr@xroads.UUCP (Steve Roberson) (01/15/90)
In article <25B08A6E.12422@maccs.dcss.mcmaster.ca>, riehm@maccs.dcss.mcmaster.ca (Carl Riehm) writes: > > Are you serious in saying that this is the wave of the future? If you are > a hunt and peck artist at the keyboard I can understand this I suppose, but > for the rest of us??? I think it's just a gimmick, at least for most users. > Carl Riehm. There is a good blurb on the Gridpad in the Jan90 PC Laptop magazine. The list price is $2370.00 and it states that the unit has a plug for an external keyboard. I have a vision of velcroing this thing to the wall of my cubical and having just a keyboard on my desk. When away from the desk this wouldn't be too conveinient but you'd probably want the GridPad for customized applications anyway. Now if they had a touch-screen model.... -- \ / C r o s s r o a d s C o m m u n i c a t i o n s /\ (602) 941-2005 300|1200 Baud 24 hrs/day / \ hplabs!hp-sdd!crash!xroads!pubtendr
fozzard@boulder.Colorado.EDU (Richard Fozzard) (01/18/90)
In article <H8LCM25@drivax.UUCP> g1@drivax.UUCP (Bruce Holloway) writes: >I dunno about you, but I can type a hell of a lot faster than I can >legible write. > >- Bruce >-- >******************************************************************************* >* Bruce Holloway - Terminal Netnews Addict uunet!amdahl!drivax!holloway * >* ALBATROSS, ATARI*TROS @ Plink ALBATROSS @ Delphi * Perhaps a "Terminal Netnews Addict" can type that fast, but the vast majority of people (not just us computer geeks) cannot. Also, the GRiDPad can be used *standing up* by holding it with one hand and writing with the other, just like a scratchpad. How fast can you type with one hand? I believe that this represents a major step forward in portability and usability - if it works well, that is. ======================================================================== Richard Fozzard "Serendipity empowers" University of Colorado/CIRES/NOAA/ERL/FSL fozzard@boulder.colorado.edu (303)497-6011 or 444-3168
davidc@vlsisj.VLSI.COM (David Chapman) (01/18/90)
In article <25B08A6E.12422@maccs.dcss.mcmaster.ca> riehm@maccs.dcss.mcmaster.ca (Carl Riehm) writes: >In article <15545@boulder.Colorado.EDU> fozzard@boulder.Colorado.EDU (Richard Fozzard) writes: >> >>Has anyone out there played with the new GrIDPad - the one with >>a stylus that writes directly onto the LCD display (no keyboard, >>just handwriting recognition). This seems like the wave of the future > >Are you serious in saying that this is the wave of the future? If you are >a hunt and peck artist at the keyboard I can understand this I suppose, but >for the rest of us??? I think it's just a gimmick, at least for most users. It's not intended to be a generalized computer system. It's intended for field usage where a keyboard is inconvenient or difficult to use. And yes, Grid machines are expensive - they're commercial boxes with military durability (and prices! :-). Wave of the future? I can type faster than I write and get writers cramp whenever I write more than half a page. I'm left handed, too, which makes matters that much worse. With computers at work, at school, and at home, I almost don't need pens and pencils any more. I can see uses for a GridPad that weighs less than a pound (don't remember how much it really weighs), but it's not for me. Of course, if it had a keyboard and a paint program to go with that stylus, I would gladly give up mice. And that could well be the (a?) wave of the future. -- David Chapman {known world}!decwrl!vlsisj!fndry!davidc vlsisj!fndry!davidc@decwrl.dec.com
clh@tacitus.tfic.bc.ca (Chris Hermansen) (01/19/90)
In article <15782@boulder.Colorado.EDU> fozzard@boulder.Colorado.EDU (Richard Fozzard) writes: >In article <H8LCM25@drivax.UUCP> g1@drivax.UUCP (Bruce Holloway) writes: >>I dunno about you, but I can type a hell of a lot faster than I can >>legible write. ... >Perhaps a "Terminal Netnews Addict" can type that fast, but the vast >majority of people (not just us computer geeks) cannot. Also, the GRiDPad C'mon now. You too can type faster than you can write, and ESPECIALLY faster than you can print. And have you ever tried copying something by hand without looking at what you're writing? Seriously! Buy a cheapo clone and someone's typing tutor program, you'll see. The results will be worth it! >can be used *standing up* by holding it with one hand and writing with the >other, just like a scratchpad. How fast can you type with one hand? Now this sounds like a more interesting application. Sort of the Sony Writeman (no attempt to steal any trademarks here!) approach to life. I have a picture of some astronmer prodding the bowels of her solar telescope and taking notes on her Gridpad. I'd bet this application is in the minority, though. Seems to me that the "point-and-click" metaphor has been fairly well demonstrated to fit into the situation of the computer having more information than the user (ie the "majority of people" mentioned above). In the case where the user has more useful information than the computer (ie us computer geeks), I can't say that I'd prefer to write, rather than type, commands. By the way, have you checked out the portable Mac? It brings the point-and-click metaphor to the (almost) hand-held world. Besides, I *DEFY* you to conceive of how the Gridpad is going to support all those EMACS users out there :-) Chris Hermansen Timberline Forest Inventory Consultants Voice: 1 604 733 0731 302 - 958 West 8th Avenue FAX: 1 604 733 0634 Vancouver B.C. CANADA uunet!ubc-cs!van-bc!tacitus!clh V5Z 1E5 clh@tfic.bc.ca -or- Chris_Hermansen@mtsg.ubc.ca May you work in an interesting place.
fozzard@boulder.Colorado.EDU (Richard Fozzard) (01/20/90)
In article <144@tacitus.tfic.bc.ca> clh@tacitus.UUCP (Chris Hermansen) writes: >C'mon now. You too can type faster than you can write, and ESPECIALLY >faster than you can print. And have you ever tried copying something by >hand without looking at what you're writing? >Seriously! Buy a cheapo clone and someone's typing tutor program, you'll see. >The results will be worth it! I presume that you have never attempted to teach your mother or an Art History student (excuse the shameful generalizations!) to use a computer - either that, or you are being tongue-in-cheek about this suggestion. The VAST majority of even affluent Americans find typing slow and painful, but writing easy and natural. >>can be used *standing up* by holding it with one hand and writing with the >>other, just like a scratchpad. How fast can you type with one hand? >Now this sounds like a more interesting application. Sort of the Sony >Writeman (no attempt to steal any trademarks here!) approach to life. I >have a picture of some astronmer prodding the bowels of her solar telescope >and taking notes on her Gridpad. I'd bet this application is in the minority, >though. In the minority? Hardly. I'd lay heavy odds that far more people spend time using a notepad or clipboard than even the most common computer applications such as word processors and spreadsheets. >the way, have you checked out the portable Mac? It brings the point-and-click >metaphor to the (almost) hand-held world. The portable Mac is a wonderful machine - easily the most advanced and usable portable machine, yet still falls far short of ideal. What I want is a portable device with the ease of use of a notepad, and the information processing power of a Symbolics or a Mac. I'm not that hard to please :-). It may be just wishful thinking, but I'm hoping that the GRiDPad is a step in the right direction. >Besides, I *DEFY* you to conceive of how the Gridpad is going to support all >those EMACS users out there :-) No hope of satisfying THEM (us!). ======================================================================== Richard Fozzard "Serendipity empowers" University of Colorado/CIRES/NOAA/ERL/FSL fozzard@boulder.colorado.edu (303)497-6011 or 444-3168
dave@fps.com (Dave Smith) (01/20/90)
In article <144@tacitus.tfic.bc.ca> clh@tacitus.UUCP (Chris Hermansen) writes: > >Now this sounds like a more interesting application. Sort of the Sony >Writeman (no attempt to steal any trademarks here!) approach to life. I >have a picture of some astronmer prodding the bowels of her solar telescope >and taking notes on her Gridpad. I'd bet this application is in the minority, >though. > >Seems to me that the "point-and-click" metaphor has been fairly well >demonstrated to fit into the situation of the computer having more information >than the user (ie the "majority of people" mentioned above). In the case >where the user has more useful information than the computer (ie us computer >geeks), I can't say that I'd prefer to write, rather than type, commands. By >the way, have you checked out the portable Mac? It brings the point-and-click >metaphor to the (almost) hand-held world. > >Besides, I *DEFY* you to conceive of how the Gridpad is going to support all >those EMACS users out there :-) No reason why a Gridpad couldn't support a point-and-click metaphor. Just need a button on your stylus. It's a _lot_ easier to deal with initially than learning to move the cursor with the mouse. As far as applications, any application where you would rather have a notepad than a keyboard is fair game. For example, I would like one with an integrated text/graphics editor so that I can take notes, have it transform my chicken scratchings into text (it'll probably require that I write neatly to use it, sigh...) and let me put in little drawings. Afterwards, I can take the drawings and neaten them up, index my notes in the computer, etc. What the writing interface really buys you is that you don't have to switch interfaces anymore, i.e. when you switch from text entry to graphics entry you don't have to take your hand off the keyboard and put it on the mouse or trackball. I'd still like a keyboard if I were going to be doing lots of mostly text stuff, but for mixed text and graphics this looks like the right way to go. -- David L. Smith FPS Computing, San Diego ucsd!celerity!dave or dave@fps.com "I'm trying to think, but nothing happens!" - Curly Howard
esh@hplb.hpl.hp.com (Sean Hayes) (01/22/90)
One annoyance I have with people who have some keyboard training is that they think its the fastest way of entering information. This has been true up to now because computers are very stupid. However shorthand systems can make writing 2 to 3 times as fast as a *very* skilled typist, (ask your favourite secretary). So even without the benefits of being able to input freehand sketches notes etc (ever written to your mother or lover using a typewriter - were they impressed?). The days of giant keyboards and monolithic terminals must be numbered. As for EMACS, and all other meta-twiddle-escape-cokebottle editors/shells, the sooner they are consigned to the museum of amusing memorabilia the better. Sean. .----------------------------------------------------------------------. | S. Hayes, Hewlett Packard Laboratories, | | Filton Road, Stoke Gifford, Bristol BS12 6QZ, | | England. | | (0272) 799910 x 24023 | |ARPA: esh%shayes@hplb.hpl.hp.com | | esh@hplb.uucp | | ..!mcvax!ukc!hplb!esh | .----------------------------------------------------------------------.
dunc@cs.ubc.ca (Deadly Dunc) (01/23/90)
In article <531@toad.hplb.hpl.hp.com> esh@hplb.hpl.hp.com writes: >So even without the benefits of being able to input freehand sketches >notes etc (ever written to your mother or lover using a typewriter - were >they impressed?). The days of giant keyboards and monolithic terminals >must be numbered. And what about writing in Chinese characters? I tried using Chinese wordstar, but I think hand written is still faster. >As for EMACS, and all other meta-twiddle-escape-cokebottle editors/shells, >the sooner they are consigned to the museum of amusing memorabilia >the better. I second that! emacs is dead, but they just don't not know it yet... Duncan Stickings <Dunc@ean.ubc.ca> EAN X.500 Project