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A new type of computer input device?

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  • 26-04-2013 9:23pm
    #1
    Alako
    Closed Accounts Posts: 50 ✭✭


    Hiya,

    I'm a product design student and we're currently undertaking a research project that will help us decide what to design for our final year project.

    One of the areas I'm looking into is the possibility of designing a device that would fit at the inside bottom your fingers and would allow you to input shortcut combinations, ctrl+alt, ctrl+t etc.

    This idea came about from me wishing I had something like that so I could Photoshop away with my head planted on my chin.. I think though that it could have some applications for people with impaired mobility

    I am at the very early stages of this, so I am only starting to build my knowledge of whats out there, but I have been told (by someone who told me 'if its out there... I know about it..') there isn't really anything on the market like what I'm trying to do.

    I would love any input from people; what would you like to get from an input device? What problems do you have with mice or keyboards? Any particularly useful devices you have seen?

    Any kind of input really appreciated.. I'd like to design something actually useful! : )

    Thank a million

    Emily


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    #2
    CreepingDeath
    Closed Accounts Posts: 8,015 ✭✭✭CreepingDeath


    FYI: Microsoft has "Sticky Keys", for people who have trouble with pressing two keys at once. So no extra hardware required.

    Microsoft Sticky Keys


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    #3
    GUIGuy
    Registered Users Posts: 246 ✭✭GUIGuy


    In the Photoshop sphere Wacom pens and tablets have programmable buttons and gestures that activate actions/or modifiers.

    In the CAD world the space mouse does the same.

    The motion leap goes much further because you don't need any physical interface at all. It tracks movement and can recognise patterns of movement. You could tap on your cheeks and it could be programmed to interpret that as boredom or whatever.

    Hmmm forget impaired mobility... lecturers always tend to help the needy vicariously through their students. The 'impaired mobility' market is not a market per se... there arre so many different impairments that cattering for one specifically might impact on another.

    In reality if a market for [insert apt product] there's also a much smaller market for a specialised version for each different impairment that ccould touch the design space.

    Figure out the most irritating issue that you have with a product and could it be fixed with a better physical design (allied if necessary to software/electronics) and go for that.


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