Re: Touchscreen Compatibility [was: Feature proposal: combined system status menu]

[Juanjo Marín <juanjomarin96 yahoo es>]

> ________________________________
> De: Allan Day <allanpday gmail com>
> Para: Alberto Ruiz <aruiz gnome org> 
> CC: desktop-devel-list <desktop-devel-list gnome org> 
> Enviado: Miércoles 24 de abril de 2013 18:34
> Asunto: Re: Touchscreen Compatibility [was: Feature proposal: combined system status menu]
>
>
> Alberto Ruiz <aruiz gnome org> wrote:
> ...
> > we have to question
> > ourselves if this is another trend like the netbook one that is
> > somewhat transient and misleading.
> ...
> > I'd make a distinction here between transformers (Docable tablet that
> > turns into a laptop+trackpad) that switches between touch mode and
> > keyboard/pointer mode.
> >
> > My question is, do we have data that backs up the notion that people
> > actually want a touch screen in their laptops? Or is this just the
> > OEMs following Windows 8 in the hope that they will sell more units?
> ...
> > I don't believe there will be a single UI for both form factors. I can
> > see value in having the ability to switch from tablet to PC with the
> > same device as long as the application set is different and only apps
> > shipped for each form factor are shown on each mode.
> ...
> > I am just concerned about how much stuff that
> > would make a great design for keyboard+pointer are we giving up to be
> > touch friendly. I am afraid that if we go down that route we will end
> > up with a not so great touch UI and a not so great keyboard+pointer
> > UI.
> >
> > If it was up to me I would stick to be a great UI for what people
> > knows and will keep using for as long as we are a keyboard+pointer
> > desktop when it came to design criteria. But that's just me, I am just
> > trying to have valuable conversation about this and making sure I
> > understand what's in your mind moving forward.
> ...
> > My problem with that approach is that you are somewhat giving users
> > notion that they can use the desktop with a touch interface, and as
> > long as you try to use a more complex app that ability goes away,
> > that's ought to be frustrating.
>
> Sorry for the slow reply.
>
> Honestly, I don't see us sacrificing a huge amount to try and gain a
> degree of touchscreen compatibility. All our designs are primarily
> targeted at pointer and keyboard; we just try and steer clear of the
> biggest touchscreen issues. With touch becoming much more common, that
> doesn't seem like an entirely crazy thing to do.
>
> My main goal at this stage is to make sure that someone running GNOME
> 3 on a laptop with a touchscreen doesn't get something that is
> *totally* broken for their device - that's it.
>
> That said, on a personal level I find the prospect of GNOME 3 running
> on a laptop with a touchscreen or a transformer style hybrid to be an
> appealing one. A laptop with a touchscreen would make some occasional
> actions easier and more satisfying (think scrolling, zooming,
> dragging, paging, etc). A hybrid wouldn't be a fully-fledged tablet
> when in "tablet mode", but would be a convenient hardware arrangement
> for certain activities, like watching a film or browsing the web.


Well, I think that is not easy to add touchscreen support without compromising the keyboard + mouse 
experience. I've seen many changes in GNOME 3 that I think are positive, because not only by improving the 
experience of mouse + keyboard users, but also by improving the experience in touchscreen devices.


But also some problems has arisen in the effort of being compatible with touch devices.For example, I think 
that the UI of new applications like Documents are very touch friendly, but it's weird for keyboard + mouse 
users. It is weird because the interaction is very different from other core applications like Nautilus 
(Files). In Nautilus, double click opens a file, but only one click opens it in Documents, and the way of 
selecting elements and doing actions with selected elements is quite different. I think Documents works great 
in touch screen devices and it is a little bit clumpsy with mouse, and Nautilus works great in mouse and 
keyboard but not so good for touchscreen devices.


In my opinion, the current keyboard + mouse experience must be preserved and the compatibility with 
touchscreen devices must be pursuited through the addition of new mechanics when touchscreen devices are 
detected and avoid any change that can be perceived such as a regression of the keyboard + mouse interactions.

Just my two cents,

    -- Juanjo Marin