Something we talked about lot about when designing the Copper Charlie. A lot of induction ovens use an off the shelf capacitive interface. If you look at a lot of them they use the same component under the glass top. The head of product at Copper was determined for things to be done with knobs, even the now typical oven interface. Happy to connect you to the V of product there if you like.
I’ve worked in various science museums making interactive exhibits and that’s a battle we’re always fighting. A lot of people engage more fully and learn more when they have tactile controls. But installing software that runs on a touch screen is easy and cheap, and less maintenance. So management regularly pushes for more touch screens, where I try to design as much as possible using knobs and cranks and buttons.
I feel this is a key area in maintaining the role of humans in the design and control process. We have had our capabilities reduced by mouse and touch convention.
is there a premise that the touchscreens are “more exciting” ? I’m thinking of the Eames’ Mathematica exhibit in Boston, lots of moving parts. Probably breaks a lot
Scrolling with my Logitech MX Master to get down this page, and playing with the little button that switches between detents and free scrolling. Kind of take that for granted, but there’s some cool little haptic or other switch inside that actuates the change. Makes a good solid “CLICK” when it changes too.
Similar background or ‘peripheral’ information is communicated on the Peloton Bike+, where turning the resistance knob shows both on the screen as a number increment, and in a very subtle ‘buzz’ coming from the frame itself as the resistance servos move in and out to make the flywheel harder to turn. I’ve heard it was unintentional but it adds to the exercise IMO.
How much history is going to be covered in the book?
Like there are also interesting “commercially failed” interfaces, like the Gametrak by Elliot Myers and Co which I know about because we bought it and used in an media art project. The art project though was not extended as the game traks production was ended at one point.
Hi Steve, I love your idea about writing to connect ID and UX design. I have a few good cases studies if you are interested. Here’s my contact info as well as a link to my company website.
