Software vs. Hardware

[James R. Coplin]

Another argument could easily be that the mouse is a *superior* interface as
it proves more information and is much more gesture based than and knob or
fader.  It is a multi-dimensioned interface with velocity and acceleration
properties.  Once you add a wheel and click combinations, it should be *even
better* than a traditional interface.

Of course, I think all of this is hogwash as I expressed in our last
interface discussion when I argued that the piano interface receives far
more criticism than it deserves.  In particular since I doubt that anyone on
this list has achieved such a level of virtuosity that it is a limiting
interface.  However, it is interesting to see that many of the same people
who feel that more complex controls are more "expressive" also think that
the more expressive mouse is junk and the lowly knob a superior interface.
The main problem with the mouse isn't the mouse's fault.  Blame UI designers
for keeping the knob model in a UI where it has no business existing.

James R. Coplin

***************************************
Work is the Curse of the Drinking Class
***************************************
  

> -----Original Message-----
> From: music-bar-bounces at lists.music-bar.org [mailto:music-bar-
> bounces at lists.music-bar.org] On Behalf Of Matt Picone
> Sent: Sunday, June 29, 2008 7:45 PM
> To: Music-bar
> Subject: Re: Software vs. Hardware
> 
> > * You can *feel* the control under your fingers. There is no such
> > feedback with a mouse
> 
> > * You don't have to look at a control to use it. Try that with a
> mouse.
> 
> > And you can control several faders with one hand, but it's a minor
> issue
> > compared to the above two.
> 
> Let's add that a control is more focused: a mouse has many more axes of
> motion than a button or a slider or a knob, inviting vectors with no
> function, or worse, counterintuitive function. Of course, this could be
> seen as a limitation of single dimensional controls...
> 
> Let's also add that the mouse requires more compound functions: click
> and drag, double click, etc.
> _______________________________________________
> music-bar mailing list
> music-bar at lists.music-bar.org
> http://lists.music-bar.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/music-bar