RailPro > RailPro Specific Help & Discussion
Touch Screens vs. Knobs & Buttons
melarson:
Digitrax just announced it's new LNWI device to connect throttle-enabled mobile devices to their Loconet. That got me to thinking about how I have always maintained that I prefer a controller with a knob over a touch screen slider. And that led to the following questions.
Are there any of us RP users who would like to have a few more physical controls on the HC? Not everything, obviously, but perhaps the "function" buttons? Engine, horn, lights, sounds on physical buttons rather than screen buttons? Use the touch screen for everything else.
I don't know, maybe it's just me, but I thought I would put the question out there to see what other RP users think.
Michael
Alan:
It's not just you. I like tactile controls too.
I would like to have a button on the side of the HC case that could be used for direction. Changing train direction probably accounts for 90% or more of my screen taps. I would like the button to be on the side of the case, as opposed to the face, so I could press it with fingers of the same hand that is holding the HC while my other hand is busy with a skewer uncoupling cars. That way I could work an entire trick without ever taking my eyes off the train.
I suppose a second button for horn/whistle would be nice too for you sound guys. I don't use sound so a single button would suffice for me.
nodcc4me:
I prefer the touch screen, although I like Alan's idea for direction buttons on the sides. I don't think there is enough room on the surface of the controller to add tactile buttons and still be able to perform all the functions currently available. The screen would have to be made smaller to make room for those buttons, and that would make it harder to see. I can just about make out the current buttons without glasses. ::)
melarson:
I was thinking about rotating the screen to portrait orientation making the controller a bit narrower. Put a 4x4 grid of tactile buttons below that, and the knob at the bottom, elongating the height of the controller. I love the idea of the direction switch on the side. Just throwing out a vision of how it might work.
My problem is that my right index finger doesn't always reliably engage a touch screen, including the iPhone I am using right now. Not sure why. Other digits have greater success but of course are not the easiest for me to use. In particular is the lower left button on the screen which typically actuates the horn/whistle. After the frustration of from four to eight failures, I break down and use my thumb.
But my original post was just an inquiry as to how others feel about it, and I thank you guys for chiming in. Very interesting perspectives.
Michael
G8B4Life:
I could see a use in a horn button; for sound users that would be the most used button (I don't count the bell as a sound, I count it as annoying. Sorry.) but if a button was provided for that, or for Alan's on the on the side direction button which side of centre of the HC would you put them on? While I could use the HC one handed in either hand quite comfortably and by that I mean it wouldn't feel "wrong" and I could perform the same finger functions equally as well many others out there would not have the dexterity to use it in their off hand if the buttons were on the wrong side for them.
I wonder if anyone's done any sort of study of how many hands are usually used to operate a throttle in a sample and when used one handed which hand is the most commonly used.
- Tim
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