• @LovableSidekick
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    217 days ago

    I think we’ll see multipurpose function buttons under the display, that change function programmatically depending on what the app is doing.

    • @agelord
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      217 days ago

      That’s gonna mess with muscle memory.

        • @LovableSidekick
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          16 days ago

          Yes, in another comment I explained that many years ago I wrote a software package to map program functions to the F keys, which on my keyboard were arranged in 2 columns of 5 on the left. It was before putting them in a single row across the top became the standard. The software displayed a diagram showing the key functions, laid out in the same pattern as the physical keys. I found it very easy to get the hang of looking at this diagram and pressing the right button without looking at the keys. Each keypress brought up new options, basically a multilevel submenu system, but using the buttons was faster than moving a mouse around and clicking.

          Of course the concept is very obsolete for normal computer keyboards because that f-key layout isn’t around anymore. But if the device had the buttons right under the screen the key functions could be displayed above them. I could see that “soft buttons” concept becoming popular.