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Fingers Too Fat for Tiny Gadgets? 'No Problem,' Says Microsoft
Obesity is a problem for the majority of our population, affecting the lives of many Americans in unfortunate ways. Aside from the constant risk of massive heart attacks, lots of overweight people -- and some who are just born with large hands -- are having trouble with the ever-decreasing size of buttons and touch screens. Luckily, Microsoft has a solution to what it calls the "fat finger problem."
| Yes | |
|---|---|
| No | |
| I'm not sure |
The company's Nanotouch project, which debuted at its annual TechFest event, allows the ham-fisted to use their toys by moving their fingers along the backs of the gadgets. This way, the user's sausage-like digits won't block the front screen and render it essentially useless. Microsoft says the motivation for Nanotouch is to make our gadgets even smaller. According to the Times, one researcher "envisions women pinning electronic baubles onto their clothes to handle things like appointments instead of carrying along a proper calendar or phone." Yep.
As of now, Microsoft claims it can make the devices function on 8mm screens. While we think it'll be amazing to use devices that tiny, we sort of wish the company wouldn't give our nation's heavier people yet another excuse to avoid the gym. [From: New York Times]
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Comments
9
Subscribe to commentsDeniseFeb 26th 2009 10:31PM
Who cares about fat fingers? I want to be able to see those tiny little buttons and screens.
MattFeb 26th 2009 10:51PM
Is this guy an idiot? While it is true that some people's laziness have contributed to the obesity problem in the US, do you really have to be clasified as obese to have trouble hitting the ridiculously tiny little buttons on a Blackberry for example?! I'm 6'6" and to be perfectly honest there are a number of items that are too small and could use improvement. Theater seats, backs of cabs, doorways, most cars just to name a few. I guess I must be obese.
TimMay 10th 2010 8:29AM
Heck, I'm only 6'0" tall, and the Grand Theatre in my town has seats such that my legs are pressed against the seat in front of me when I sit bolt-upright. I can relate to the 6'6" thing, though, as my ex was 6'7" and, when we went to Broadway, we actually had to go find someone to switch seats with us (the people in charge actually said we should have asked - why would it occur to someone to ask? At least in my town, other than at that theatre, there was always sufficient room...), as there was no way his legs would fit in the space allotted (it was crowded for me too).
beaselbubFeb 26th 2009 11:51PM
did any of ya'll author haters actualy read the artical...he doesnt single out fat people...he also stats for people born with large hands...lay off the guy....its microsoft who dubbed in "the fat finger problem"
SpiffyFeb 27th 2009 12:05AM
I understand you tried to cover for yourself by pointing out that some of us are naturally born with larger hands, but I'm highly offended at the use of terms like "ham-fisted" and "sausage-like." I am one of those people with naturally large fingers. I did not choose to be "ham-fisted" as you call it.
mothmonsterman82Feb 27th 2009 12:21AM
This is a remarkably stupid article. First of all, the concept of spending hundreds, thousands of dollars to buy gadgets that are "necessary" because they're smaller and shinier than the ones they replaced is a big part of why the planet is in the mess it's in.
And to briefly sink to the level of this article, I'm six feet tall and 180 lbs, not at all fat. But I have big hands. I'm using the keyboard from my old computer (circa 1998) because the new one was made for squirrel hands. Forget cell phones
Furthermore, the "sausage-like digits" crack wasn't funny. Offensive humor can be great, but this was lame.
JimFeb 27th 2009 3:42AM
I saw a "child's computer keyboard" recently that has the keys spaced about 3/4th of an inch apart. I may get one, becauise I have large hands (I'm 6-5, 260 lbs) and am forever striking two keys instead of one. As for the keyboards on laptops-forget it. I use older keyboards that resemble old IBM typewriters, with keys that are stacked like auditorium seats, with upper rows higher than lower rows. Also, the keys do not have sloping edges and are square.
LorraineFeb 27th 2009 3:45AM
This was a ridiculous article! The fact that the company tried to tie in a story about mini devices and mini buttons to obesity is absurd and speaks poorly of the PR and communications poeple at Microsoft. My fingers aren't fat and I'm not obese, yet I have problems with the small buttons on many of today's devices.
My recommendation to the folks at Microsoft is to understand their customer base before making such ludicrous statements. I know I'll look elsewhere for tiny gadgets I buy in the future.
hbrushFeb 27th 2009 1:20PM
It's articles like this, kids, that make me a mac, not a pc. Stupid Microsoft. How about they work on virus protection and kinks in their software before they start insulting the large-handed.
and by the way, I don't think that someone can't operate miniscule buttons on miniature devices makes them in any way fat. i think the device is just to friggin' small.