[Sigia-l] When will you buy one?

[Will Parker]

On May 29, 2007, at 10:55 PM, Ziya Oz wrote:

> You think this is just an overpriced toy? Or a UI/interaction paradigm
> breaker?

I think it's a security and ergonomics nightmare.

Oh... wait ... no, that's Vista.

I think it's an ergonomics and security nightmare.

I might as well just copy the comments I made this morning over on  
the IxDA Discuss list, where similar discussions are being going on  
(http://lists.interactiondesigners.com/pipermail/discuss- 
interactiondesigners.com/2007-May/016728.html):

<Me, earlier today, in response to an assertion that the Surface UI  
was innovative>
-------------------------
On May 30, 2007, at 7:27 AM, <SOMEBODY> wrote:

> The TED was all about the multitouch and concepts on zooming and  
> navigation.
> Yes, thats in the MS version. But I think the live object  
> interaction is the
> key here. That was not on the TED

No, but live object interaction IS in the Starfire Project video and  
the Sony Data Tiles demo and several other 'Active Object' demos.  
There's little in the MS product that hasn't been wandering around in  
the IxD research community for the last 10-15 years.

Some of you may recall that Gates showed off a prototype of this at  
CES 2006. (I'll supply the link later if anyone is interested.) His  
scenario for the display surface involved several improbable things,  
like people displaying and editing what should be highly secure  
personal and corporate data on an open table in an airport lounge.  
Oh, and don't forget to pick up that wallet you put on the table in  
order to log in.

Aside from the ergonomic issues one would encounter waving your arms  
around vigorously during an extended session with one of these  
devices, the chief architectural problems I see are security and  
equipment maintenance.

Sure, you can spill you data out on the table for everyone around to  
see, but what happens to the data when you leave? What happens to  
data associated with one of those data tiles when you walk away with  
it in your pocket? What happens when the data tiles for the table  
inadvertently get dropped on the floor and swept up by the janitor?  
Do _you_ own the file system, or does the table owner own you?
-------------------------------

There was an interesting reaction to this and other critical comments  
from an official Microsoft Surface evangelist, along the lines of  
'It's a new baby. How can you criticize a baby that has the potential  
to grow into someone wonderful?'

My response was more diplomatic than 'Talk to me again when it's  
potty-trained'. Maybe.

- 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