Yes, in another comment I explained that many years ago I wrote a software package to map program functions to the F keys, which on my keyboard were arranged in 2 columns of 5 on the left. It was before putting them in a single row across the top became the standard. The software displayed a diagram showing the key functions, laid out in the same pattern as the physical keys. I found it very easy to get the hang of looking at this diagram and pressing the right button without looking at the keys. Each keypress brought up new options, basically a multilevel submenu system, but using the buttons was faster than moving a mouse around and clicking.
Of course the concept is very obsolete for normal computer keyboards because that f-key layout isn’t around anymore. But if the device had the buttons right under the screen the key functions could be displayed above them. I could see that “soft buttons” concept becoming popular.
Because touch screens are cheap and put the onus of design onto the programmers of apps.
I think we’ll see multipurpose function buttons under the display, that change function programmatically depending on what the app is doing.
That’s gonna mess with muscle memory.
not really. you’ll build muscle memory of the button sequence, if needed.
Yes, in another comment I explained that many years ago I wrote a software package to map program functions to the F keys, which on my keyboard were arranged in 2 columns of 5 on the left. It was before putting them in a single row across the top became the standard. The software displayed a diagram showing the key functions, laid out in the same pattern as the physical keys. I found it very easy to get the hang of looking at this diagram and pressing the right button without looking at the keys. Each keypress brought up new options, basically a multilevel submenu system, but using the buttons was faster than moving a mouse around and clicking.
Of course the concept is very obsolete for normal computer keyboards because that f-key layout isn’t around anymore. But if the device had the buttons right under the screen the key functions could be displayed above them. I could see that “soft buttons” concept becoming popular.
Like a streamdeck essentially?