Mint Usability

HP has realeased this all-new kitchen/media/whatever everything-but-kitchensink computer which you should be able to handle with touch only. That’s touch, as a singular, no multi-touch for this one.

Doesn’t look like surefire to me. Yes, it’s a nice concept and the user interface looks nice. Actually it looks like Windows Media Center with Vista treatment, meaning everything is black. And lots of gloss of course as the trends today dictate.

However, it seems to have usability problems which are bound to cause irritation, like pictures that look like thumbnails that you can open and but, a-ha, you can’t. Touch panel response seems to be another issue. as the device fails to act for every third input, which kinda.. well, sucks.

Though, I must admit, I’m somewhat interested how this will cope up the true world, since I’ve designed, as part of UI design course, somewhat similiar device with touch-only inputs. Maybe I throw in some screenshots of it, at some point. Although, they aren’t too polished, specially when you compare them to device like this. (If I just can find them somewhere, that is. Seem to have misplaced the whole project somewhere.)

Video after the jump, with TouchSmart 2 presentation video, or just head straight to CrunchGear to see more.

Video after the jump.

Read it all from CrunchGear

Continue reading “HP TouchSmart 2 caught on video”

Now, something completely different: Neovisus gaze user interface

The techique behind this application is simple, and tried-and-true, IR leds meets eyes trick and couples it with rather fawless looking software.

The idea is to shine IR light to persons eyes, catch the reflection with camera without IR filter, and preferably with visible light filter, so that the image processing software is left with two neat blobls to work it’s magic. I’ve seen this same technique used with a TV. which stops the stream it’s playing when you’re not looking at it, sadly I don’t have any video of the application.

In any case, it’s nice to see the huge bounds and leaps user interfaces are getting nowdays.

Check out Martin Tall’s Neovisus Video Demonstration or his gaze interaction blog

Continue reading “Introducing gaze input”

Guess you can soon mention Surface as kind-of real life(tm) application since it’s supposed to land to hotel Rio, Las Vegas, any time now. Though I’m still waiting for the REAL application to really use multi-touch for it’s advantage. And no, I’m not counting Perceptive Pixel’s huge-ass wall.

So, I guess I have to revisit my Multi-touch -article soon. Nah, don’t think so.

Video after the jump

Continue reading “Microsoft Surface hits Las Vegas”

Just bled for 550€ worth to Austria so you better come through ÖAD!

But enough of that, let’s get back to business!

When watching from the blogs point of view, it seems that nothing has happened for a month. This, however, is not what has been going on. Here’s why.

Reason one. Work has swamped me. Been doing 11-12 hour days. Though it’s hardly a good excuse not to post anything, but as it turns out it’s one of the reasons.

Reason two. I’ve bought myself an domain (www.mintusability.com) for the blog and the whole blog-project. I’ve been evaluating different platorms for the site and setting things up. When the decision was made I’ve spent some time on Photoshop but noting final has yet to emerge from that process. Made some mockup logos and layouts, still not liking it enough, so I’m using the default theme at the moment.

Reason three. I’ve started coding of completely new project, which I knew I would need to tackle at some point. It’s going to be a long process, including Java, touchscreens and mining companies. At the moment I’m working on designing the architecture and coding some user interface things.

Reason four. As the time approaches for me to leave Finland, I’ve been tying to take care of things. Apartment in there in taken care of, apartment at Austria is on it’s way. I’m hoping I’d get a room from Studentenheim Greenbox, which is a dormitory right next to the university of FH Joanneum.

So. At this day I’m officially moving to this new domain.