Comments on: MacBook Air’s “Multi-touch Trackpad” is Backwards! http://futilecycle.com/2008/01/15/on-the-macbook-air A Wandering Through Life and Science Sat, 22 Nov 2008 05:41:19 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Ron http://futilecycle.com/2008/01/15/on-the-macbook-air#comment-3788 Ron Tue, 22 Jan 2008 17:40:07 +0000 http://futilecycle.com/2008/01/15/on-the-macbook-air#comment-3788 I tried it out at MacWorld, and I thought along similar lines. I don't have an iPhone, so I didn't realize they were changing an already implemented gesture. Here's what I came away with: I was comparing it to reading a book. The swipe is backwards from the way you would turn the page--slightly unintuitive. However, with a trackpad laying flat on a horizontal surface (the way most laptops are used), the swipe they've implemented is actually more ergonomic reading forward. What I mean is this: think eBooks. Think reading forward. Try both swipes. The one they picked is opposite, but it feels more natural (at least to me). The iPhone is usually interacted with while holding in one hand, at a comfortable angle. Why can't the gestures be different? This interaction is my biggest problem with tablets vs. laptops. I tried it out at MacWorld, and I thought along similar lines. I don’t have an iPhone, so I didn’t realize they were changing an already implemented gesture.

Here’s what I came away with: I was comparing it to reading a book. The swipe is backwards from the way you would turn the page–slightly unintuitive. However, with a trackpad laying flat on a horizontal surface (the way most laptops are used), the swipe they’ve implemented is actually more ergonomic reading forward.

What I mean is this: think eBooks. Think reading forward. Try both swipes. The one they picked is opposite, but it feels more natural (at least to me).

The iPhone is usually interacted with while holding in one hand, at a comfortable angle. Why can’t the gestures be different? This interaction is my biggest problem with tablets vs. laptops.

]]> By: Eric http://futilecycle.com/2008/01/15/on-the-macbook-air#comment-3628 Eric Fri, 18 Jan 2008 08:35:44 +0000 http://futilecycle.com/2008/01/15/on-the-macbook-air#comment-3628 Perhaps so; I personally think it's confusing simply from the point of visualizing what you're moving around on the screen. Multi-touch on the iPhone is compelling because it is set up as if you are actually manipulating visual metaphors of the stuff. Multi-touch on the MacBook Air, on the other hand, not so much. Perhaps so; I personally think it’s confusing simply from the point of visualizing what you’re moving around on the screen. Multi-touch on the iPhone is compelling because it is set up as if you are actually manipulating visual metaphors of the stuff. Multi-touch on the MacBook Air, on the other hand, not so much.

]]> By: Bill http://futilecycle.com/2008/01/15/on-the-macbook-air#comment-3586 Bill Wed, 16 Jan 2008 09:21:19 +0000 http://futilecycle.com/2008/01/15/on-the-macbook-air#comment-3586 Seems like it's only confusing for iPhone users, and I can think of plenty of reasons for not using an iPhone, at least not this early version. Seems like it’s only confusing for iPhone users, and I can think of plenty of reasons for not using an iPhone, at least not this early version.

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