| Every new technology goes through a marketing | | | | You push the ball around with your fingers to |
| life cycle. It's new, it builds a niche, and if it's lucky | | | | move the arrow. It's actually quite comfortable |
| it becomes indispensable. That's where the | | | | and easy to use once you get used to it. In fact, |
| touchpad keyboard is heading. Soon a touchpad | | | | because it takes up less desk space and it's more |
| keyboard may be as essential as a computer | | | | ergonomic, I think it's superior to a computer |
| mouse. | | | | mouse. |
| The touchpad keyboard came in big with the | | | | But trackballs are hard to find anywhere because |
| laptop computer. Now it is becoming a regular | | | | they don't follow the formula. You push your |
| addition to desktop computers as well. There are | | | | finger and the ball just spins. Where is our 3-inch x |
| even peripheral touchpad systems on the market | | | | 3-inch universe? It's gone. |
| that you can plug into USB ports. And these new | | | | So the touchpad keyboard was primed and ready |
| products are coming out even though the | | | | when the laptop computer came out. It was not |
| touchpad keyboard has several blaring | | | | only easy to figure out, because of its similar |
| weaknesses. | | | | world view to the computer mouse, it was |
| What determines which technologies become | | | | portable. It was perfect for the laptop. There |
| indispensable, like the touchpad keyboard, and | | | | were a few models of laptops that came with |
| which get thrown off to the side? I think it has | | | | trackballs, but they didn't last. Soon everyone got |
| more to do with converging technology than the | | | | used to the idea of the universe as a touchpad |
| merits of individual technologies. | | | | keyboard. It doesn't matter that the touchpad is |
| Just think of the computer mouse. When it first | | | | easily scratched, sloppy with large fingers, and |
| came out it was hard to control and hard to | | | | prone to false positive clicking. It's what we have |
| follow that little arrow across the screen. It took | | | | and we are used to it. |
| me weeks to get the double click down. And | | | | That's why we are all so excited to use the new |
| besides, I didn't see anything wrong with my | | | | versions of the touchpad keyboard for desk top |
| joystick. | | | | computers. It's the natural next step. Could it be |
| What made the computer mouse such a hit was | | | | that the touchpad keyboard will eventually replace |
| that you had to have it for Windows. There was | | | | the computer mouse? |
| no need with DOS. And my joystick was perfect | | | | I don't know about that, but the touchpad |
| for all my gaming needs. Then, someone decided | | | | keyboard is definitely here to stay. And, as with |
| a computer mouse would be easier to navigate a | | | | all technology, the touchpad keyboard will get |
| computer screen with than a joystick, so it | | | | better as it goes. The computer mouse was a |
| caught on. And now that we're all used to the | | | | pain in the neck to use when its little wheels inside |
| computer mouse, it's hard to think of using a | | | | got dirty or the cord got tangled with stuff on |
| computer without one. That three-inch square | | | | your desk. Now technology has corrected those |
| section of our desk has become a microcosm of | | | | problems with light sensors and the cordless |
| our computer screen, and in fact the universe. | | | | computer mouse. |
| You push it forward and the arrow goes up. | | | | I'm sure the touchpad keyboard will go through |
| Nothing could be more natural. | | | | similar changes that will correct its problems. |
| The touchpad keyboard started off on the right | | | | Maybe they will come with a finger puppet-like |
| foot because it followed this world-as-a-plain | | | | stylus for people like me with fat fingers to cut |
| formula. Not everything was so successful. Have | | | | down on the slop. I know keys aren't well suited |
| you ever used a trackball? Have you ever heard | | | | for this. Maybe the newer touchpad keyboard |
| of it? If not, I wouldn't be surprised. The trackball | | | | products have already dealt with the common |
| is a wonderful invention, not much different from | | | | problems facing the first touchpad keyboards. I |
| a computer mouse. It's kind of like an upside | | | | guess I'll just have to try one and find out for |
| down computer mouse that sits on you desk top. | | | | myself. |