On New Computer Interfaces

I stumbled across this while reading a thread on Slashdot regarding the "soap" mouse (basically, an optical mouse contained within a "sleeve" of jersey-weight fabric, so it would slip like a bar of soap and you can use it to manipulate the pointer on a screen).

Anyway, I do believe that there are some great innovations in human-computer interaction these days. I find that one of the more fascinating "higher level" things that are going on in computer science. Are some of these new innovations impractical? Of course. Not every new invention or way of doing something is going to adopted in the next generation of applications/hardware. Not every piece of hardware is refined enough at first draft to have a "cool, sleek" look.

Do you remember when DVD players first came out? I certainly do. I remember saving a crapload of money to buy this $300 machine that was larger than my parents' VHS player. Now you have these tiny, refined, DVD players that include a small screen. You can fit probably 8 of these in the space that original clunky DVD player took up.

I think the Wii has one of the most innovative, original HCI controls, despite its flaws. Whatever device the Wii controller spawns (or 3rd or 4th generation device) may or may not be an improvement over the current controller. There are many roads to Rome.

I see a lot of potential for the soap mouse, and not just for gaming. Imagine an extension of the little clicky thing some professors use on their powerpoint presentations. Now imagine they can access the entire desktop in their lecture.