What is the future for touch displays using inventor?

[Anonymous]

More and more displays are becoming available that support touch. We are in the process of upgrading our design office and it was suggested that we go back to the old drawing board layout but using large touch displays.

Anyone have any experience in who well inventor handles such input systems?

[dgorsman]

While it looks cool and "Star Trek-y", the technology isn't quite there yet from a cost/performance standpoint.  The mouse-keyboard-monitor paradigm still rules.

[mcgyvr]

When one looks at the "ergonomics" and repeated muscle strain/back/neck/spinal cord/movement,etc... related with a touch screen and the repetition of a professional/daily user that will quickly end the conversation. 

And even more so in a "drafting board layout"...You will all look like "turtles" in no time.. 

[jeremy_wasserstrass]

Having used a touchscreen to work with Vision system software, I can say touchscreens are in no way ideal for CAD use. One of the biggest issues is that your finger ends up covering what you are trying to select. A stylus can help with that some, but the issues with perspective become greater. By that I mean what you are trying to select is not where you think you see it. A touchscreen that has a hover feature to detect the stylus tip like some drawing tablets would help with that some. There is still the ergonomics issue even if a screen could be found that would work.

[Anonymous]

I agree that current layout and GUI design of Cad systems are inadequate for touch. It does leave a gap for othere software houses to enter this market.

The possible benefits of having a more intuitive design interface could actually translate to improve productivity.

[mcgyvr]

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@Anonymous wrote:
I agree that current layout and GUI design of Cad systems are inadequate for touch. It does leave a gap for othere software houses to enter this market.

The possible benefits of having a more intuitive design interface could actually translate to improve productivity.

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You can make the GUI as pretty/functional as you want.. But that still won't solve the ergonomic issues/workmans comp claims.. 

"Touchscreens" will NEVER have a place in repetative/professional applications IMO

[mrattray]

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@mcgyvr wrote:

"Touchscreens" will NEVER have a place in repetative/professional applications IMO

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Indeed.

[blair]

Not to mention looking through fingerprints and smears. It may be nice for sketching on a iPad or other touch screen.

[swalton]

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@mcgyvr wrote:

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@Anonymous wrote:
I agree that current layout and GUI design of Cad systems are inadequate for touch. It does leave a gap for othere software houses to enter this market.

The possible benefits of having a more intuitive design interface could actually translate to improve productivity.

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You can make the GUI as pretty/functional as you want.. But that still won't solve the ergonomic issues/workmans comp claims.. 

"Touchscreens" will NEVER have a place in repetative/professional applications IMO

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When I have 3d PMI and I need to redline a print in the field, a touchscreen tablet might be useful

For production modeling/engineering I don't see touch being useful. I have a mouse with 5 programable buttons in my right hand, a 3d controller with 12 context sensitive programable buttons in my left hand, and a keyboard in between.  Now you want me to poke at a screen with my finger and forget all the other input channels to control my CAD software?

[Anonymous]

Kudos for mastering the skill to indirectly manipulate your work in such away. It must have taken some time to reach that skill level. I am sure if you ask someone else to use it who has not mastered your control methods they would be lost.  It does feel as a mouse and 3d controller would be able to be more precise and versatile. But surely any control methods with that much practice would reach an equal or even better level? 

Being confronted with a situations where I can see the benefit of being exposed to the standard mouse and keyboard system sins child hood vs those that are not. I can say touch would be more initiative. It is even more obvious when I watch how easily a 3year old masters a touch device vs the challenge of a mouse and keyboard. 

I fully agree that there will need to be aids such as touch gestures, hovering, stylus etc. As well as a completely new ergonomic design.  

[JDMather]

Micro motions of mouse and 3DConnexion Space Navigator for me. 

I can't imagine waving my hands around for CAD other than at presentation time.

Manipulating with my Space Navigator give me the effect of a bionic arm.

My screen is still 2D (even "3D" monitors are actually 2D).  My Space Navigator is 3D.  I can hold it in my hand.

[mrattray]

Hold your hands out in front of you unsupported for 5 minutes.
I work 9+ hour days.

[swalton]

My wrists get sore just poking at my ipad for too long. 

[mcgyvr]

I just got a 5 week old kitten (some stupid rednecks threw 2 of them out a car window going 40+ MPH in front of me on the way to work.. caught 1.. couldn't get the other as it pranced off into the forest)

In 1 day this kitten has learned to follow my mouse cursor on the screen and tap the touchscreen right over the cursor when I say "get it".. 

But I wouldn't ask it to do that for 7+ hours a day.. 

I had also heard a few years back that humans will eventually not have thumbs as they are rarely used.. Don't think thats true anymore by the way I see kids using their smartphones now.. And just wait till they get old and see how bad their arthrisis is going to be. 

I'm gonna be proactive put in an ideastation post for "mind reading" control of Inventor.. Then who cares about ergonomics or the GUI.. 🙂 problems solved

[mrattray]

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@mcgyvr wrote:

I had also heard a few years back that humans will eventually not have thumbs as they are rarely used.. 

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That's rediculous. Try going a day without using your thumbs.

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@mcgyvr wrote:

I'm gonna be proactive put in an ideastation post for "mind reading" control of Inventor.. Then who cares about ergonomics or the GUI.. 🙂 problems solved

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I've been convinced for years now that cell phones (a microchip equivelant) will eventually be implanted in peoples heads.

[Anonymous]

The screen don't have to be in front of you. It can be your desk. I am think down the lines of standing/sitting at a drawing table which you can support your elbow on. 

[mcgyvr]

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@Anonymous wrote:

The screen don't have to be in front of you. It can be your desk. I am think down the lines of standing/sitting at a drawing table which you can support your elbow on. 

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I'd HIGHLY suggest you go read a book on ergonomics. You are going in the wrong direction there.. 

[JDMather]

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@Anonymous wrote:

The screen don't have to be in front of you. It can be your desk. I am think down the lines of standing/sitting at a drawing table which you can support your elbow on. 

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I still prefer micro motions on my mouse and Space Navigator rather than scrubbing my arms around my desk.

Are you using right mouse button gestures yet?

[jeremy_wasserstrass]

Then you are talking about a graphic tablet input like a Bamboo pen and touch system. I have an inexpensive one, and if I was not left handed I might actualy use it in place of the mouse, as it will function just like a mouse. I mention handedness being the reason I don't use it because holding and using a pen with 2 buttons in my off hand is much harder than using a mouse, and I am not going to take the time to get used to using my 3D device with a different hand. There is also the problem of remembering where I put the stylus when i start typing.