Speculated iMac Multi-Touch Design (Pictures Included)

[GodBless]

Regarding multitouch, the iPhone seems to be their new baby, and has demonstrated that Apple is open to taking a device that historicly has had a physical keyboard and replacing it with a touchpad and slick software. I doubt we will see a wedge iMac, but I can envision a G4 redux, so that the screen swings down to a drafting table angle and position. It may be a long way off, so I would expect a tablet first, somewhere between the iPhone and Macbook.

The mouse never took away the keyboard and the multi-touch screen will not take away the mouse or the keyboard.

Your current design won't work for 2 reasons:
1. There is no room for the keyboard in front of the multi-touch screen when it is in the multi-touch position.
2. You would have to lock the screen in place to put it in the multi-touch position and that wouldn't work because it could break easily and it would be annoying to lock in in position and unlock it from the multi-touch position time and time again. Apple wouldn't make users deal with this problem.

If you can fix those 2 problems then it might work but I personally don't like that style as much as the wedge that I made.

Edit: My second reason was already stated (credit to dcv):

That's much more feasible and user-friendly... something with a tiltable display and small footprint. It'd have to be a pretty "tight" hinge (or somehow lockable in certain positions) though to avoid the display moving around too much when touching it.

 

[RRK]

The mouse never took away the keyboard and the multi-touch screen will not take away the mouse or the keyboard.

Your current design won't work for 2 reasons:
1. There is no room for the keyboard in front of the multi-touch screen when it is in the multi-touch position.
2. You would have to lock the screen in place to put it in the multi-touch position and that wouldn't work because it could break easily and it would be annoying to lock in in position and unlock it from the multi-touch position time and time again. Apple wouldn't make users deal with this problem.

If you can fix those 2 problems then it might work but I personally don't like that style as much as the wedge that I made.

Edit: My second reason was already stated (credit to dcv):

I dont understand why you would be so interested in this wedge shape if you dont think we will be typing on the screen.

 

[GodBless]

I dont understand why you would be so interested in this wedge shape if you dont think we will be typing on the screen.

You will be touching the screen just as much or more than your keyboard (depending on the task you do) with a multi-touch screen in the future. It is the way that we will be computing. You will use the touch screen just as much or more than the mouse too. Watch this video to see some of the things you can do with multi-touch. In the near future (probably within the next 5 years) multi-touch will overtake computers just like the GUI did in the mid to late 1980s and early 1990s. Since people will be touching their screens all day long it is important that the screen is locked in place at a comfortable angle to be touched again and again without arm and wrist strain.

 

[RRK]

You will be touching the screen just as much or more than your keyboard (depending on the task you do) with a multi-touch screen in the future. It is the way that we will be computing. You will use the touch screen just as much or more than the mouse too. Watch this video to see some of the things you can do with multi-touch. In the near future (probably within the next 5 years) multi-touch will overtake computers just like the GUI did in the mid to late 1980s and early 1990s. Since people will be touching their screens all day long it is important that the screen is locked in place at a comfortable angle to be touched again and again without arm and wrist strain.

Yes, I have seen 4 or 5 jeff hahn videos going back years I think.
Notice he never has a keyboard or mouse in those videos.
Some he uses a tabletop this one he uses a drafting table and I like the one with the wall size versions he shows with more than one person working on the same screen.
He goes into depth in the video you posted about the future of virtual keyboards.
Also he has been careful with what he says when asked about apple and multi-touch.
I think he has some kind of involvement with apple on this project.

 

[sushi]

WOW that is one ugly monstrosity!

Actually in person they look okay -- at least the Japanese models like this.

 

[Scarlet Fever]

Your current design won't work for 2 reasons:
1. There is no room for the keyboard in front of the multi-touch screen when it is in the multi-touch position.

there is all the room between the computer and the user to put the keyboard and mouse.

2. You would have to lock the screen in place to put it in the multi-touch position and that wouldn't work because it could break easily and it would be annoying to lock in in position and unlock it from the multi-touch position time and time again. Apple wouldn't make users deal with this problem.

you didn't have to lock the iMac G4 display, and they didn't often break. the G4 iMac has been regarded as one of, if not the best computer designs ever.

 

[dcv]

you didn't have to lock the iMac G4 display, and they didn't often break. the G4 iMac has been regarded as one of, if not the best computer designs ever.

But you weren't using the iMac G4 as a touchscreen computer. The point here is that if you're using a touchscreen display panel it needs to be either "locked" somehow or on a tight hinge of some sort to prevent it from moving around too much as you tap the screen.

 

[Scarlet Fever]

But you weren't using the iMac G4 as a touchscreen computer. The point here is that if you're using a touchscreen display panel it needs to be either "locked" somehow or on a tight hinge of some sort to prevent it from moving around too much as you tap the screen.

yeah... i didn't think of that

maybe it could have a touch sensor behind the display, and if it detects a touch, it releases the lock...?

 

[pilotError]

If you put a handle on it you could call it the iLunchBox.

Put a picture of say... The "A Team" on the back and you could really kill in the early education market.

All that heat could keep your kids chicken nuggets nice and warm...

 

[LeviG]

I thought nope that definitely isn't going to be the design and then I was like wow someones found the extrude tool in solidworks (looks like solidworks 2006 to me). Followed the thread a bit further and saw the filleted edges, first thought in my head from that was ooh the blokes found the button a couple of blocks down on the menu

Sorry but the design is something that would have been chucked out of a-level design classes let alone at apple. Its got poor thermals and also as said looks like a door wedge/lump of white cheese and the fact you have to pick up the whole thing to get to vertical from horizontal. And I hope you didnt spend long on the modelling of the design.

EDIT: and the angle is not comfortable to work at - take a look at a book covering ergonomics to see what I mean.

 

[papadopolis1024]

STOP THE UGLY!!!! STOP THE UGLY!!!!

Please leave this to apple. PLEASE!

 

[LeviG]

ok as were doing designs for the new multitouch imac its clearly going to be in the future a bit

so flat panel displays can be made into any shape we like and the jobs halo/magnetic/levitation effect has been perfected and transferred to apple products *

Design is curved (not perfect curve was very quick and more to show idea) to allow for keyboard in a familiar place and also to take into account the motion of the arm when seated so that the whole screen can be touched from a seated position.
Curve also allows for natural head movements when viewing the screen.

Design styling takes cue from iPhone, ie silver with gloss black display when not in use. No cables except maybe power due to wifi, bluetooth and wireless usb being standard.

*I know it needs a stand but I couldnt be bothered to add it, I only spent a couple of minutes on it

 

[mrthieme]

That's much more feasible and user-friendly... something with a tiltable display and small footprint. It'd have to be a pretty "tight" hinge (or somehow lockable in certain positions) though to avoid the display moving around too much when touching it.

I was kind of picturing the bottom of the screen resting on the desk, making it much more stable so long as the base is heavy enough.

 

[mrthieme]

The mouse never took away the keyboard and the multi-touch screen will not take away the mouse or the keyboard.

Your current design won't work for 2 reasons:
1. There is no room for the keyboard in front of the multi-touch screen when it is in the multi-touch position.
2. You would have to lock the screen in place to put it in the multi-touch position and that wouldn't work because it could break easily and it would be annoying to lock in in position and unlock it from the multi-touch position time and time again. Apple wouldn't make users deal with this problem.

If you can fix those 2 problems then it might work but I personally don't like that style as much as the wedge that I made.

Edit: My second reason was already stated (credit to dcv):

I envision the screen swinging down over the keyboard, essentially hiding it when in the touch position.

 

[GodBless]

there is all the room between the computer and the user to put the keyboard and mouse.

Not unless you wanted to use more desk space than my design uses.

you didn't have to lock the iMac G4 display, and they didn't often break. the G4 iMac has been regarded as one of, if not the best computer designs ever.

I guess you're not designing a touch screen iMac after all?

I envision the screen swinging down over the keyboard, essentially hiding it when in the touch position.

Why?

We use the keyboard and the mouse together--so why wouldn't we use the multi-touch screen, the keyboard and the mouse all at the same time?

Hiding the keyboard with the touch screen is a very, very poor design.

 

[TheAnswer]

Hiding the keyboard with the touch screen is a very, very poor design.

Perhaps now would be a good time to revisit Matthew 7:3-5

 

[pknz]

Perhaps now would be a good time to revisit Matthew 7:3-5

Hahah, touché.

Why?

We use the keyboard and the mouse together--so why wouldn't we use the multi-touch screen, the keyboard and the mouse all at the same time?

Hiding the keyboard with the touch screen is a very, very poor design.

Because I don't intend to use my nose on the screen.

 

[GodBless]

Perhaps now would be a good time to revisit Matthew 7:3-5

OK let's compare every angle of each of the designs and see who comes out on top--that is to say let's see who has the stick in their eye and who has the log in their eye. I put hours and hours of thought into my design and I spent hours and hours creating it to (close to) proper dimensions and putting ports in logical places and finalizing the design to have Apple-like features. I am not concerned about what others (who analyze my design without thinking it thorough) decide think about my design but I'm more concerned about what my design really is and I am happy with what I made.

Maybe you need to take Matthew 7:3-5 to heart.

Because I don't intend to use my nose on the screen.

Well then I guess you do like my design better.

 

[Queso]

...putting ports in logical places...

You have me on your ignore list don't you

 

[vniow]

I put hours and hours of thought into my design and I spent hours and hours creating it to (close to) proper dimensions and putting ports in logical places and finalizing the design to have Apple-like features. I am not concerned about what others (who analyze my design without thinking it thorough) decide think about my design but I'm more concerned about what my design really is and I am happy with what I made.

Just because you spent hours upon hours designing this wedge doesn't automatically mean its a good idea or a good design, it just means that you spent hours upon hours on it.

If you're not really concerned about what others think of your design then why post three threads on it in a public forum? If it was more important for you yourself to be satisfied with it then why ask for feedback that you obviously didn't follow?

 

[LeviG]

Why?

We use the keyboard and the mouse together--so why wouldn't we use the multi-touch screen, the keyboard and the mouse all at the same time?

As I understand it multitouch displays do not have tactile feedback, something a touch typist likes and requires.

Hiding the keyboard with the touch screen is a very, very poor design.

Um why? - is it a case of you slating every other design (or avoiding them completely like mine ) because no one is liking yours or is there a valid design argument you want to put across.

 

[pknz]

Well then I guess you do like my design better.

You guess wrong, buddy.

 

[vniow]

Well then I guess you do like my design better.

There's only one person who thinks that, I'll give you three guesses on who...

 

[LeviG]

ok why don't we just settle it and take all the designs put in this thread and make a poll (lock this thread and/or if we can just edit this one) to see which design is preferred. Save the arguements

As to GodBless spending hours on his design, christ I wouldn't have taken more than about 20 mins to knock that up, even if you take all the logical positions etc maybe 25 mins .

And as I have said that would have been thrown out before it even got to an initial concept stage, the design is not apple and its has not been design with the user in mind.

 

[GodBless]

You have me on your ignore list don't you

No--but in this post I will respond to your post where you talked about your views in detail.

OK, having seen the fleshed out latest images we've now got a much better idea of what you're proposing. Unfortunately you've hit upon something that would definitely turn Apple off the idea, that of having the ports, power lead etc. on the side. The design looks aesthetic enough as you draw it, but imagine it with all the usual clutter of USB cables hanging out the side and it's not so tidy.

Apple laptops have ports on the side. If I put the ports on the back then it wouldn't be able to have its upright position.

I think some form of groove down the centre of the back/base sides so that the cable ports are recessed would be an improvement, so that most of the ports are hidden when you look at the unit from the front.

I considered something like that but I realized that it would work better for accessing the ports and for switching the positions with the way I have it designed now.

A single USB port on either side would then suffice for most people's on-the-fly connectivity requirements.

If you were aware of my side views then you would have noticed that I have a USB port on the front right side for both the Easy Touch position and also for the upright position.

I do think my comment about laying the design horizontal still stands though.

I don't know. That wouldn't be good for the neck or the wrists. Having it at the angle of a keyboard (like my design) seems best for multiple reasons as I have mentioned at least 3 other times.

A better way of getting around that is to have something split screen so that the lower screen becomes a virtual keyboard/gesture interface when you work whilst you look up at the upper screen. Something along the lines of a larger Nintendo DS, but with the two screens borderless at the hinge, so by turning the unit on it's side and flattening it out, they become one large panel you can use to watch a film.

That's not a simplistic or intuitive design so it is un-Apple. Plus it isn't an efficient design and would be costly and would only add to the deadly and environmentally hazardous e-waste.