[IxDA Discuss] 'Transparent' Apple Devices

[Will Parker]

On May 15, 2007, at 10:00 AM, Jack Moffett wrote:

> On May 15, 2007, at 12:39 PM, pauric wrote:
>
>> You have a better handle on this than me. Can you highlight the need
>> to bubble the pressed key in addition to the pressed key appearing
>> the 'pre'send text entry box.
>>
>> If you press the wrong button, putting an enlarged pop-up of that
>> doesnt fix anything more than reading your error in the text-entry
>> box.

The iPhone touchscreen sensor array is either capacitance-based or  
some offshoot of the internal-reflection design that Jeff Han has  
been demoing. In either case, it should be possible to distinguish  
between 'touch' and 'press' events based on the area covered by the  
fingertip. Even without fancy analysis of the touch signature, the  
keyboard software could simply require that the user hold the same  
key for, say, 0.75 seconds before the keypress is registered.

Without iPhones on hand, the key to determining whether this is the  
case would be finding evidence in the iPhone demo of a sequence like  
[ user touch / phone displays key bubble / user waits / phone signals  
keypress acceptance ]. If there's no acceptance signal at the end of  
each press, then it does come down to the advantage of focus.

Also, please note that there was some discussion in the iPhone demo  
of dictionary-based auto-completion, including entries from the  
user's contact list. For many text entry functions, it seems likely  
that the number of correct keystrokes required would be reduced,  
possibly by as much as 50%.

> It's a matter of focused attention. <snip>

This is the crucial part of the design for me. Because the key  
bubbles provide visual feedback, the user's attention is drawn to the  
keyboard area, which in turn informs and improves their fine motor  
control. That in turn is (probably) improves accuracy and therefore  
the user's experience. One persona we almost certainly won't see  
among iPhone users is the Traveling Texter, driving one-handed while  
IM'ing his Fave Fives, and doing both badly.

> The "bubbled" keys are enough
> confirmation that you are typing what you intend to type. You don't
> have to change focus. If you hit a wrong letter, you will know, and
> can fix it. Without the bubbled keys, you would either be constantly
> changing your focus, and therefore typing slower, or you would miss
> the typos.

Furthermore, if the keyboard includes a Delete key which is always in  
the same screen location (affording muscle memory), the experienced  
user can choose to attend to _either_ the key bubbles or the text  
entry field.

- Will

Will Parker
wparker at ChannelingDesign.com

“I wish developing great products was as easy as writing a check. If  
that were the case, then Microsoft would have great products.” -  
Steve Jobs