HAM Radio 3/hamradioversion3.0examsandprograms1992.iso/news/techtalk/techtalk.889

Text File | 1989-08-10 | 4KB | 61 lines

                                                                   TECHTALK

                                                          What the future will bring

      This month I'd like to take a general look at what the future of computer control and operation looks like. We won't be too specific or
 detailed, and there will of course be changes, but I think we can get a sense of direction.
      Keyboards will be around for quite a while, but will be used less and less as other man/machine interfaces become available. The mouse
 has probably seen its popularity peek. Optical mice, which use an infared link rather than a cable back to the computer are popular in some
 applications. They have the same problem that the IR keyboard used with the failed IBM PCjr had - only one can be used within range of the
 machine. Mice will remain popular for all types of drawing packages, at least until some of the other techniques we will discuss in a moment
 become readily available.
      Touch screens have become popular in some markets. Their use will probably increase. They allow greater flexibility since the label and
 function are under software control, and a panel and overlay with text do not have to be modified to change or add a knob or button. There
 are essentially two ways to implement a touch screen; capacitively and with IR detectors.
      To make a capacitive touch screen, a thin, transparent film with a matrix of capacitors and connections to them is laid over the
 display. The capacitors, or "keys" are then scanned much the same way a conventional keyboard is scanned. The number of keys, and therefore
 resolution, of this interface is limited to the minimum size of the keys. This in turn is limited to the smallest size area you can reliable
 activate with the end of your finger.
      IR detector touch screens have more potential. They also create a matrix, but with emitter detector pairs across from each other on the
 edges of the screen. This allows greater resolution for analog as well as digital inputs. Generally, this type of system is more reliable
 than the capacitive system.
      New and future systems extend the IR based touch screen to three dimensions. They do this by adding rows of emitter detector pairs in
 the Z axis, allowing more control.
      An even more advanced system just uses IR emitters in the corners of the screen. Hand movements in the area of the screen then cast
 shadows on a special sensor array. This information is processed in real time using triangulation techniques. Intricate, 3-D manipulation of
 drawings and virtual tools is made possible with this technique. One display could then control any of several different systems just by
 calling up the appropriate screen. The user could then "push a button," "turn a knob," "move a lever," "turn a wrench," or any number of
 other functions.
      A cousin to this advanced system is a glove lined with transducers. The signals from the transducers are fed into a processing device.
 Hand movements are then reproduced on a screen, allowing the user to "touch" and "hold" items on the screen. At this point, the gloves allow
 a greater range of motion, but the IR system is more accurate.
      Voice commands is another rapidly improving area. Voice synthesis is readily available now, as on our repeater controllers. Voice
 commands require a special purpose, dedicated interface, just as most of the methods we have discussed. Inexpensive ones will accept a few
 slowly spoken commands from one person. Increasing cost gives more vocabulary, normal speed and cadence, and multiple voice inputs.
      Natural hand movements in a specific area and normal voice recognition appear to be the wave of the future for computer control, but
 don't give up your typing lessons for a few years. CU next month.

                     Doug Kirsop














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