I agree very much on this. There are some precision tasks that I do, such as audio waveform editing, circuit boards, photoshop image masking and so on that can't be done efficiently without a pointing device, or a surrogate. When using the MBP I use an MX performance mouse with the MBP to get some control over some of these processes. The trackpad, while useful for some tasks, simply isn't accurate enough.
I do hear many comments claiming that touchscreens can supersede mice, and even keyboards, but I don't think this is right at all. The form factor of a mouse can be made to very closely align ergonomically with the time proven accuracy of the artisans dexterous hand. Angular displacement at the wrist traverses a relatively larger sweeping arc than with a track pad, effectively increasing resolution at something like the square of the distance. Wacom styluses are also precision devices, and yet I would still suggest that they aren't as conformant with watch maker like skills as the ordinary extended hand.
Compared with high resolution devices, big finger tips and small area track pads are clumsy and add difficulty. I wouldn't want to design fine watch mechanisms with either.
It's essentially an issue of resolution over area. I can reduce the resolution of a trackpad to attain some accuracy, but in doing so reduce the effective area.
In respect of how to have both accuracy and the simplicity of touch, I'm inclined to think that making a gesture and moving the hand backwards through the z plane to regain resolution space would be one approach. We already have protected virtual keyboards. I would be happy with moving into a projected motion detection area to regain accuracy. Until then, I have no option but to use a high resolution location device, like a mouse.
I do hear many comments claiming that touchscreens can supersede mice, and even keyboards, but I don't think this is right at all. The form factor of a mouse can be made to very closely align ergonomically with the time proven accuracy of the artisans dexterous hand. Angular displacement at the wrist traverses a relatively larger sweeping arc than with a track pad, effectively increasing resolution at something like the square of the distance. Wacom styluses are also precision devices, and yet I would still suggest that they aren't as conformant with watch maker like skills as the ordinary extended hand.
Compared with high resolution devices, big finger tips and small area track pads are clumsy and add difficulty. I wouldn't want to design fine watch mechanisms with either.
It's essentially an issue of resolution over area. I can reduce the resolution of a trackpad to attain some accuracy, but in doing so reduce the effective area.
In respect of how to have both accuracy and the simplicity of touch, I'm inclined to think that making a gesture and moving the hand backwards through the z plane to regain resolution space would be one approach. We already have protected virtual keyboards. I would be happy with moving into a projected motion detection area to regain accuracy. Until then, I have no option but to use a high resolution location device, like a mouse.