Microsoft's New Smart Phone Interface: Your Thumb

Microsoft Research scientists, in cooperation with University of Maryland researchers, have designed two interfaces to support easier use of PDAs and cellphones. Your thumb. [via Personaltech Pipeline via Mike's List]

"The interfaces allow users to operate the devices using a thumb on one hand.

In their paper, the researchers detailed thumb-as-stylus designs that allow users to operate hand-held devices using only one hand. Although existing stylus-based gesture systems do not preclude the use of the thumb, no systems have been specifically designed to be operated using the thumb, according to the researchers.

The researchers detailed the two different interface approaches in a technical paper delivered at this week's Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems in Portland, Ore."

It seems odd to me that this is sounding like a breakthrough innovation, as people are already using their thumbs to text message. One often reads about the new generation as "thumb tribes" and how prevelant using one's thumb in text messaging is - on cell phones not specifically enhanced for this.

See related articles and studies:

-- The rise of the thumb tribes - Taro Matsumura in Keitai Log has done some research on the origin of the term "thumb tribe".

-- All Thumbs, Without the Stigma - The thumb is the new power digit," said Edward Tenner, a science historian for the Smithsonian Institution who has spent time thinking about the interaction between hand and machine.

-- Thumbs take over for text generation - Children who grow up using mobile phones and gaming consoles are changing the shape and dexterity of their fingers and thumbs.

-- Interview with Sadie Plant - British technology researcher Dr Sadie Plant -- Director of the Cybernetic Culture Research Unit at Warwick University in the UK. Her findings outlined that children's thumbs are stronger and more nimble because they spend so much time texting and playing computer games.

emily | 11:38 AM | Enhanced Keyboards for SMS |
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