Remote desktop, using the phone screen as a mouse replacement.
alex[at]alexjarvis.co.uk
+44(0)7590 554435
A weblog by Alex Jarvis, full of fun and interesting stuff. I currently work in London as UX Designer for Nokia Next Generation Services.
This is a temporary website while I build my new site with new content, don't hesitate to get in touch for work examples.
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2010-02-03
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2010-02-02
Just because it’s cool.
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Two doctoral students at the Carnegie Mellon University have developed a screen with three functions: pop-up buttons and keypads can appear and disappear, the user can touch input and the screen can render graphics.
“It is rare to be able to do all three in a single display,” says Chris Harrison, a Ph.D. researcher at the Human Computer Interaction lab at CMU. Harrison, along with Scott Hudson, published a paper last month explaining how the displays would work.
“It is tough to create a physically deformable surface that can still do graphics pretty well,” he says.
It is a “thought provoking” project that plays into the emerging field of dynamic tactile displays, says Johnny Lee, a researcher at Microsoft’s Applied Sciences Group, who read Harrison’s paper early on but otherwise not connected with the research. “It’s a really, really interesting and stimulating idea,” he says.
“As humans we are very tactile individuals,” says Lee. “Touch is our primary sense as we navigate the world but touchscreens don’t allow us to use it.”
Despite the popularity of touchscreens, many users still prefer physical buttons. Physical buttons offer a low-attention way of interacting with display. And they are especially useful in situations where users don’t want to completely concentrate on a task on the screen. For instance, in cars, drivers have to take their eyes off the road to change the volume on a radio with a touchscreen. Physical buttons, especially if they could change dynamically depending on task, would let the driver touch something and keep her eyes on the road, says Harrison.
Harrison’s research is sure to gnerate interest among companies ttrying to bring more tactile feedback to touchscreens. Research In Motion attempted to bring the physical feel of clicking on a keypad to its BlackBerry Storm touchscreen. The move fell short of many users’ expectations. But it has left the door open to other attempts that can more successfully mimic the sensation of hitting a real button on a multitouch display.
The latest prototype display uses rear projection for the visual display and infrared lighting and a camera setup behind the display for the multitouch input.
In its simplest form, the prototype involves creating an air chamber by layering several specially-cut pieces of clear acrylic. A thin sheet of translucent latex is draped on top of this to act as a deformable projection surface. The air chamber is then negatively or positively pressurized to create small pop-up buttons that mimic the feel of real physical ones.
Read More http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2009/05/prototype-display-combines-touchscreen-morphing-buttons/#ixzz0eOWAdT3D -
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Some work I did for the National Maritime Museum - full write up when my new site goes live. www.solarstormwatch.com
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Known universe
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2010-02-01
Dynamic, shape changing mobile handset concept. Completely crazy, but really really interesting.
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2010-01-26
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2010-01-18
New year, new hosting company
I’ve made the bold move of swapping my hosting company, as an incentive to update my website. My blog is acting as a temporary placeholder while I get the new one in check.
In the mean time, don’t hesitate to get in contact for any freelance enquiries, my email address and phone number are over there ».
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2010-01-07
Skokie Public Library
I love everything about this so much. Just shows what can be done when a few creative people take control of a flagging public service, positively benefiting the whole community for minimal outlay.
My Dad works for the Kent Library service, I’ve sent this to him in the hope that someone takes this idea and does something amazing in the UK.
http://www.skokielibrary.info/
“Skokie Public Library supports lifelong learning, discovery and enrichment through a broad spectrum of materials, technologies and experiences. Serving a diverse population, the Library facilitates access to information, the exchange of ideas and the building of community.”
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My problem with Chrome
That bar. Because Google chose to scrap a dedicated search box and address bar and use a single bar that spans the width of the browser, any text entry bar a full URL results in a Google search for the term entered.
For example, typing ‘Twitter’ into the address bar of Firefox takes you directly to the Twitter site. It’s a neat shortcut, and is fairly intelligent in terms of deciphering spelling mistakes or if you’re searching in a rush. Chances are if you’re typing ‘Twitter’, you want to go directly to the twitter site and not to a search. If you want to search, you use the alternative box on the far right.
By using one box for two functions, Chrome has to default to a search result as they don’t know your intentions when entering the term.
It’s a small niggle, and realistically doesn’t affect my work or browsing that much, but it does add an extra click or two into a function that I’ve become pretty used to.
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2009-12-06
New watch, thanks to all of the lovely, lovely people at MOO. I’ll miss them all.
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2009-12-03
Why doesn't every decent mobile application do this?
Release your application on all platforms your target market might use at the same time. Easy, isn’t it.
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2009-11-26
VW Christmas Card
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2009-11-24
Infinite music - Möbius music box
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