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I agree with your sentiment - but at the same time I've been thinking a bit about this (not-mouse, not keyboard input - and text editing). I think that multi-touch screens might be a good-ish fit for something ACME-like (note: I'm not an ACME user). One-finger to select, two-to (do whatever it is that typically does), three for action etc. Two-finger hold+third-finger-tap. That kind of thing.

My main motivation is that I've developed RSS pretty early, and while I can function with a keyboard, using the mouse more than just a little bit, will quickly trigger a fall-back.

Add to that, the idea of reducing ten digits to a single (or three) buttons, doesn't strike me as optimal -- only easy (considering a serial interface, simple hardware).

That said, efficient, non-strain inducing touch interfaces pretty much dictate the same kind of restrictions that pen-"input" (drawing) does: a drafting table/slanted screen layout -- not vertical screen, horizontal keyboard.

And I do think that ACME has some valuable ideas that could help make multi-touch work for efficient text (and other) editing.




I enjoy how many people speculate about "improving" Acme's and Rio's interface without a clear understanding of what that interface entails.


If it entails repetitive strain syndrome, I'll pass.

As I understand it it is oriented around three buttons -- I suggest that that might be achieved with multi-touch (I can see how it might be difficult to distinguish "hold-one press two", and "hold-one press three" -- but I don't think it is insurmountable to achieve a lot with proper multi-touch and some smarts).

Are you saying my assumption is wrong?

(My only idea of ACME (apart from starting it and looking around casually) is Russ Cox' "Tour of ACME"-video posted to HN a while back https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4533156 , and the "ACME paper": http://plan9.bell-labs.com/sys/doc/acme/acme.pdf refereed to by Rob Pike in a /. interview: http://beta.slashdot.org/story/50858).




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