Adaptive Pointing – Implicit Gain Adaptation for Absolute Pointing Devices

If you've tried using a laser pointer, you know it's very hard to hold it still. Some guys at the University of Konstanz have found a way to make it easier to point with a device like the Wii-mote.

They assume that most clicks are a combination of a fast move to get close to the target, and then a slow move to accurately position the cursor. During the fast move they use absolute position, but they switch to relative position as soon as the cursor slows down. I think this sounds like a great idea. My only fear is that it will feel a bit sticky. But then, I think I would prefer a slight stickyness to the jittery feeling you get with absolute pointing.

Here's the original paper.

Pressure Sensitive Keyboard

Looks like pressure sensitive physical keyboards are ready for mass production.

I like it how different technologies cross fertilize. The pressure sensitive sloppy type algorithms were made for touch screens, and now they can migrate back to physical keyboards, if you just make the characters pressure sensitive.