[alexholehouse]

The cognitive leap to associate moving a mouse or keyboard (in your hand) with stuff going down on a screen is significant compared to just touching something you see and it moves. The former represents how we typically interact with a computer, the later how we interact with everything else.

It's actually kind of amazing that Apple made both those interaction types - Apple 2 was THE FIRST time you had a keyboard + screen, and the iPhone/iPad are(perhaps more arguably) the most successful implementations of touch screen interaction.

[jodrellblank]

Apple 2 was THE FIRST time you had a keyboard + screen

I raise you Douglas Englebart and a decade earlier.

[alexholehouse]

Yeah sorry - I clearly should have said in terms of an affordable easy-to-use device for the masses (the same being true for the iPhone/iPad).

Edit: Just went a found Engelbart's lecture at Stanford - it's incredible http://sloan.stanford.edu/MouseSite/1968Demo.html

[georgemcbay]

"Apple 2 was THE FIRST time you had a keyboard + screen"

Are you shitting me?

Edit: Makes more sense with the 'affordable' qualifier though it is still debatable as a "FIRST".

[alexholehouse]

I'm actually quoting Steve Wozniak, but sorry, I should have made clear I meant for an affordable consumer device. Apologies.

Edit: No doubt, to be totally honest it's not an area I really know too much about, I just have Steve shouting "THE FIRST" engraved in my memory from a few years ago...