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Because unless you mistyped because your fingers weren’t aligned correctly on the keyboard (i.e. a key to far to the left or right), you will notice because you’ll usually hit the wrong key much closer to its edge than you’d hit the right key.
Someone steal this idea: give haptic feedback based on the position of the finger striking the ‘key’. A strong feedback should be associated with a solid touch in the center and a weak feedback when you miss.
Also, you almost certainly (even if it’s unconscious) guide your finger placement by feel, on a physcial keyboard. There are subtle cues. The differently-sized keys are a major one. "Wait, why am I feeling that edge of the space bar with my thumb? My hand is too far over." The little bumps on the F and J key (whole reason they’re there) are another, even though most people aren’t even aware they’re using them… may not even realize they’re there at all. Your subconscious will still give a twinge when something feels out of place, though.
I hope it is an option, I actually hate haptic feedback, and always turn it off on my Android or Windows phones. Typing on the on-screen keyboard on the Surface is buttery smooth, I really have no problems with it.
I will no pass judgement before trying myself, but something tells me that touch keyboard is bound to suck and even cause people that can type without looking to constantly look down at the keyboard. Haptic feedback won’t cut it in this case.
It’s one thing typing on a small touch screen under your thumbs and probably a whole other with 10 fingers on a full keyboard.
Also, inking on a different screen/surface and seeing the results on another is not as intuitive or accurate as writing directly on the surface that produces the paths.
They sure have, but it doesn’t mean it’s optimal for document creation etc. If I want to start writing exactly one centimetre from the top and left of an A4 document, I am going to have trouble using an additional/external inking surface if it’s not a 1:1 and even if it is, having the paths drawn write under the pen tip is that much more intuitive.
I recently switched from a tablet to a tablet-enabled monitor, and this isn’t true at all. The corners are the hardest part to calibrate, and my hand often gets in the way. Because the calibration is almost never perfect, I end up having to follow the pointer with my eye (just as with a traditional tablet) rather than placing strokes intuitively. I’m actually thinking of going back for my desktop set-up, but the convenience factor is what keeps me using the touch/pen-enabled screen when I’m on a mobile device. It would be nice to have that 1:1 relationship, but that’s very difficult for both software and physical reasons (How thick is the touchscreen glass? Is the LCD bonded to it or a few millimeters removed?). Being able to see what I’m doing ends up being more important.
It’s certainly doable, but everyone of those artists and designers including Wacom themselves will tell you there’s a learning curve that comes with using these tablets that you may/may not want to deal with.
I bought one myself (The Intuos Medium) a month or so ago to simply take digital notes with at my desk, nothing complicated, and I ended up returning it just because I couldn’t get over how much more natural having a Surface 3 or iPad Pro would be.
This is interesting too. The stylus that is included with the Yoga Book seems designed for the Wacom surface only (or writing on paper with its swappable nib), so I don’t know if it would work on the tablet screen. Lenovo do make other tablets/2-in-1s that have styluses though, so I’m thinking that maybe those styluses could work with the Yoga Book, or any Windows tablet stylus for that matter.
I own both a Surface Pro 2 and a Galaxy Note 8. Both similiar size tablets that use a wacom digitizer behind the screens. Before that I owned a couple wacom drawing pads. With both tablets I thought exactly what you were thinking, that writing directly on the screen would offer the best result. However, I tend to write/draw with my palm resting on the surface. Both tablets proved frustrating (as it was too easy to hit UI elements). I’m cautious, but also hopeful, that this will actually end up being a better form factor. Looking forward to the real world reviews.
I wonder if there will be an aftermarket silicone overlay you could buy that would replicate keys for the people that have an issue with the flat keyboard.
Comments
It’s a really interesting idea. One that I’m not sure has any meaningful practicality.
By Citizen85 on 08.31.16 2:41pm
Dan, is there haptic feedback on the keyboard layout? Because it would be nice…
By theoutliner on 08.31.16 2:51pm
yes.
By hatwearer2034 on 08.31.16 3:11pm
There sure is!
By xN1Cx on 08.31.16 3:11pm
They said in the video interview that there is haptic feedback on the keyboard portion.
By Noah LaRoy on 08.31.16 9:39pm
I don’t get this, why do people like haptic feedback on touch keyboards so much?
You can feel that you pressed a key, but not if you pressed the right key (from the angle), the way you do on a physical keyboard.
By Prime on 09.01.16 6:38am
How can you tell you pressed the right key on a physical keyboard?
By kayzee on 09.01.16 7:50am
Because unless you mistyped because your fingers weren’t aligned correctly on the keyboard (i.e. a key to far to the left or right), you will notice because you’ll usually hit the wrong key much closer to its edge than you’d hit the right key.
By Gatanui on 09.01.16 7:59am
Although it is worth noting that this is only true if one can type with all five fingers.
By epinephrine2 on 09.01.16 1:12pm
I type with (mostly) just my pointers, and I totally notice. You still hit the ket at an unexpected angle. But I’ve been typing this way a long time.
By Prime on 09.01.16 2:28pm
Interesting. Haven’t personally ever noticed I’m doing that! I’ll try and take more notice in future lol.
By kayzee on 09.02.16 4:31am
Someone steal this idea: give haptic feedback based on the position of the finger striking the ‘key’. A strong feedback should be associated with a solid touch in the center and a weak feedback when you miss.
By descendency on 09.05.16 11:31pm
Also, you almost certainly (even if it’s unconscious) guide your finger placement by feel, on a physcial keyboard. There are subtle cues. The differently-sized keys are a major one. "Wait, why am I feeling that edge of the space bar with my thumb? My hand is too far over." The little bumps on the F and J key (whole reason they’re there) are another, even though most people aren’t even aware they’re using them… may not even realize they’re there at all. Your subconscious will still give a twinge when something feels out of place, though.
By FeRDNYC on 09.03.16 9:22am
I hope it is an option, I actually hate haptic feedback, and always turn it off on my Android or Windows phones. Typing on the on-screen keyboard on the Surface is buttery smooth, I really have no problems with it.
By Doge Man on 09.01.16 4:54pm
I will no pass judgement before trying myself, but something tells me that touch keyboard is bound to suck and even cause people that can type without looking to constantly look down at the keyboard. Haptic feedback won’t cut it in this case.
It’s one thing typing on a small touch screen under your thumbs and probably a whole other with 10 fingers on a full keyboard.
Also, inking on a different screen/surface and seeing the results on another is not as intuitive or accurate as writing directly on the surface that produces the paths.
By MindYourMind on 08.31.16 6:48pm
Artists and designers (not to mention people with RSI) have been inking on a separate surface for at least a decade with Wacom tablets.
By rjbwdc on 08.31.16 7:48pm
They sure have, but it doesn’t mean it’s optimal for document creation etc. If I want to start writing exactly one centimetre from the top and left of an A4 document, I am going to have trouble using an additional/external inking surface if it’s not a 1:1 and even if it is, having the paths drawn write under the pen tip is that much more intuitive.
By MindYourMind on 08.31.16 8:00pm
I recently switched from a tablet to a tablet-enabled monitor, and this isn’t true at all. The corners are the hardest part to calibrate, and my hand often gets in the way. Because the calibration is almost never perfect, I end up having to follow the pointer with my eye (just as with a traditional tablet) rather than placing strokes intuitively. I’m actually thinking of going back for my desktop set-up, but the convenience factor is what keeps me using the touch/pen-enabled screen when I’m on a mobile device. It would be nice to have that 1:1 relationship, but that’s very difficult for both software and physical reasons (How thick is the touchscreen glass? Is the LCD bonded to it or a few millimeters removed?). Being able to see what I’m doing ends up being more important.
By bsanr on 09.01.16 1:32pm
It’s certainly doable, but everyone of those artists and designers including Wacom themselves will tell you there’s a learning curve that comes with using these tablets that you may/may not want to deal with.
I bought one myself (The Intuos Medium) a month or so ago to simply take digital notes with at my desk, nothing complicated, and I ended up returning it just because I couldn’t get over how much more natural having a Surface 3 or iPad Pro would be.
By Drew. on 09.01.16 2:46pm
Even if it is not said directly, I am sure you can draw on the actual screen if you want to.
By Mha71 on 09.01.16 3:32am
This is interesting too. The stylus that is included with the Yoga Book seems designed for the Wacom surface only (or writing on paper with its swappable nib), so I don’t know if it would work on the tablet screen. Lenovo do make other tablets/2-in-1s that have styluses though, so I’m thinking that maybe those styluses could work with the Yoga Book, or any Windows tablet stylus for that matter.
By epinephrine2 on 09.01.16 1:15pm
I own both a Surface Pro 2 and a Galaxy Note 8. Both similiar size tablets that use a wacom digitizer behind the screens. Before that I owned a couple wacom drawing pads. With both tablets I thought exactly what you were thinking, that writing directly on the screen would offer the best result. However, I tend to write/draw with my palm resting on the surface. Both tablets proved frustrating (as it was too easy to hit UI elements). I’m cautious, but also hopeful, that this will actually end up being a better form factor. Looking forward to the real world reviews.
By Di Vergent on 09.02.16 3:51pm
I thought the Surface has palm rejection. At least, I never seem to have an issue as long as I don’t place my hand unnaturally.
By thisisnotausername on 09.04.16 9:47am
I wonder if there will be an aftermarket silicone overlay you could buy that would replicate keys for the people that have an issue with the flat keyboard.
By thisisnotausername on 09.04.16 9:45am
We’ll find out soon.
By Winklemeier on 09.04.16 11:11am