Touch + Pen = Incredible Input Options

[Jason Dunn]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.istartedsomething.com/20100409/microsoft-research-manual-deskterity-synergy-pen-touch/' target='_blank'>http://www.istartedsomething.com/20...ergy-pen-touch/</a><br /><br /></div><p><em>"Pen and touch computing have long-thought to be mutually exclusive methods of human-computer interaction, but as the Microsoft Research project "Manual Deskterity" shows, the two intuitively combined makes for a much powerful input method than each of them might ever be on their own."</em></p><p><object width="600" height="360" data="http://www.youtube.com/v/9sTgLYH8qWs&amp;feature=player_embedded&amp;ap=%26fmt=18" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"><param name="src" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/9sTgLYH8qWs&amp;feature=player_embedded&amp;ap=%26fmt=18" /></object></p><p>This video has some really interesting concepts for user input combining pen and touch - we're all very touch-focused now, but using a pen brings a powerful element into the manipulation of objects and text. Well worth watching!</p>

[ptyork]

No, no, no. If your interface uses a pen or a stylus, you've failed. Geeze! Why doesn't Microsoft "get it." Anything you can't do with your stubby fingers you don't need to do. So say we all...

[randalllewis]

Wow! That was cool. As the HP Slate will have a pen as well as touch, could we see at least some of that capability on the device? It would certainly further mark the Slate as not just a better named iPad.