Will Natal replace the mouse?

[greenmedic88]

sguy78 said:

tedsteriscool said:

sguy78 said:

Killergran said:
To replace the mouse it would have to boast a superior interface, be easier to use, cheaper and very advertised. I have no doubt that it will fail at at the very least three out of four.

It could possibly be a complement to the mouse in certain situations and in certain locations.

By no means do I think it will replace the mouse by this time next year. However, I feel it will have potential to do so in later iterations.

Do you think it would be accurate as a mouse pixel-for-pixel?

 

I don't see myself having the ability to do any form of photo editing unless it could be as precise as a mouse (to the pixel at 800x magnification).

I think a touch screen could be more accurate than a mouse with photo editing. I don't necessarily believe that is the primary use of a mouse anyways.

A touch screen tablet is already more accurate than a mouse for digital illustration. Wacom sells their Cintiq line of tablets that utilizes an LCD screen you draw on directly like traditional media. Quite an improvement over traditional pen and tablets, which themselves are far superior for precision drafting/illustration work over the mouse. 

Unfortunately the smallest Cintiq (12") retails for $999, making it strictly a tool for professionals and well funded enthusiasts. The 21" retails for $1999. 

Gesture and voice based input may well be standard input devices once the technology has appropriately matured. Fairly primitive gesture controls are already quite functional on touch based devices like the iPhone so it would only be a natural progression. 

Maybe not Natal, but something more advanced is definitely in the future. Cost is the other issue as well (see Cintiq). Only when the technology can be made inexpensive enough to be accessible to mass consumers will it be fully mature.