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  3. Do developers really need a touch screen?

Do developers really need a touch screen?

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  • K Kaladin

    The way I see it, the best testing is done on the actual system the user is using, whereas emulators are best used for prototyping and debugging. I've had many problems only occurred when it was run on the actual system.

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    Tomz_KV
    wrote on last edited by
    #31

    Agree. Even on actual systems, problems may still exist since there are so many different devices made by different manufacturers. Cannot test them all.

    TOMZ_KV

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    • R Ron Anders

      Nobody really does. That will find it's way to the top of the truth heap in time.

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      Tomz_KV
      wrote on last edited by
      #32

      For daily business operation, not so much touch interaction on a computer is needed.

      TOMZ_KV

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      • L Lost User

        Tomz_KV wrote:

        Are there any good reasons that developers need a touch screen dev box?

        An emulator is just that; it may not be an entirely accurate representation of what happens on the real hardware.

        Bastard Programmer from Hell :suss: If you can't read my code, try converting it here[^]

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        Tomz_KV
        wrote on last edited by
        #33

        Do you think my boss would buy me an iPhone X? :-D

        TOMZ_KV

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        • A Abhinav S

          Nope.

          Windows Apps - Sound Meter | Color Analyzer | Wallpaper Selector | Football Doodles

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          Tomz_KV
          wrote on last edited by
          #34

          My laptop has a touchscreen and I have not found a way to really utilize it in dev.

          TOMZ_KV

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          • T Tomz_KV

            Most touch applications are developed using an emulator. The "touch" test is generally conducted on a real phone or pad. Are there any good reasons that developers need a touch screen dev box?

            TOMZ_KV

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            kmoorevs
            wrote on last edited by
            #35

            My newest laptop has a touchscreen. The only time I've ever used it was when developing a web application for POS terminals, and a few times since when demoing the same application at trade shows. Honestly, I'd like to find an easy way to disable it as I have a colleague who has problems with depth perception and will occasionally tap the screen accidently! :)

            "Go forth into the source" - Neal Morse

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            • T Tomz_KV

              Jeremy Falcon wrote:

              Not until programming becomes as simple as pointing and clicking

              The day may come sooner than we expect.

              TOMZ_KV

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              Jeremy Falcon
              wrote on last edited by
              #36

              True that.

              Jeremy Falcon

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              • K kmoorevs

                My newest laptop has a touchscreen. The only time I've ever used it was when developing a web application for POS terminals, and a few times since when demoing the same application at trade shows. Honestly, I'd like to find an easy way to disable it as I have a colleague who has problems with depth perception and will occasionally tap the screen accidently! :)

                "Go forth into the source" - Neal Morse

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                Tomz_KV
                wrote on last edited by
                #37

                A new project for touchscreen makers: the difference between intentional and accidental touches. :-D

                TOMZ_KV

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                • T Tomz_KV

                  Most touch applications are developed using an emulator. The "touch" test is generally conducted on a real phone or pad. Are there any good reasons that developers need a touch screen dev box?

                  TOMZ_KV

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                  Ravi Bhavnani
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #38

                  I have no use for one.  It's (much) easier for me to use a mouse to click than tap on the screen.  Same for Ctrl/Mousewheel vs. pinch to zoom. /ravi

                  My new year resolution: 2048 x 1536 Home | Articles | My .NET bits | Freeware ravib(at)ravib(dot)com

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                  • T Tomz_KV

                    Most touch applications are developed using an emulator. The "touch" test is generally conducted on a real phone or pad. Are there any good reasons that developers need a touch screen dev box?

                    TOMZ_KV

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                    MacSpudster
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #39

                    :suss: I had a touchscreen for development back in the late '80s. :cool: :omg: What took y'all so long? :wtf:

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                    • R Ravi Bhavnani

                      I have no use for one.  It's (much) easier for me to use a mouse to click than tap on the screen.  Same for Ctrl/Mousewheel vs. pinch to zoom. /ravi

                      My new year resolution: 2048 x 1536 Home | Articles | My .NET bits | Freeware ravib(at)ravib(dot)com

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                      Tomz_KV
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #40

                      Keyboard shortcuts seem to be used more often than a touchscreen.

                      TOMZ_KV

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                      • M MacSpudster

                        :suss: I had a touchscreen for development back in the late '80s. :cool: :omg: What took y'all so long? :wtf:

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                        Tomz_KV
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #41

                        MacSpudster wrote:

                        I had a touchscreen for development back in the late '80s.

                        Must be very expensive then.

                        TOMZ_KV

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                        • T Tomz_KV

                          Keyboard shortcuts seem to be used more often than a touchscreen.

                          TOMZ_KV

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                          Ravi Bhavnani
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #42

                          :thumbsup: /ravi

                          My new year resolution: 2048 x 1536 Home | Articles | My .NET bits | Freeware ravib(at)ravib(dot)com

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                          • T Tomz_KV

                            MacSpudster wrote:

                            I had a touchscreen for development back in the late '80s.

                            Must be very expensive then.

                            TOMZ_KV

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                            MacSpudster
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #43

                            $400 for a 9" touchscreen for the then Mac Classic/Classic II. $815 in today's dollars ~ CPI Inflation Calculator[^]

                            The first person that replies to this comment gets $200. (Well, actually, anyone can get "$200" via copy/paste... :laugh: )

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                            • M MacSpudster

                              $400 for a 9" touchscreen for the then Mac Classic/Classic II. $815 in today's dollars ~ CPI Inflation Calculator[^]

                              The first person that replies to this comment gets $200. (Well, actually, anyone can get "$200" via copy/paste... :laugh: )

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                              Tomz_KV
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #44

                              That is the cost of an iPad today with a similar screen size. Not as expensive as I thought. :)

                              TOMZ_KV

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                              • T Tomz_KV

                                Most touch applications are developed using an emulator. The "touch" test is generally conducted on a real phone or pad. Are there any good reasons that developers need a touch screen dev box?

                                TOMZ_KV

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                                Gary Wheeler
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #45

                                Tomz_KV wrote:

                                Are there any good reasons that developers need a touch screen dev box?

                                Absolutely yes. I've been developing touch-screen apps since 2000, which obviously predates smartphones. I've used far too many phone apps that fail basic touch usability metrics: - Touch targets are too small - Targets are placed too closely together - Icons that indicate a target don't accurately delineate the target area - Text used as a touch target (finger obscures needed information, plus text is weak for positioning cues) - Target layout without regard to tasks I attribute a lot of this to the use of emulators and the mouse in place of testing on real devices with real fingers. I know a lot of app developers can't afford to buy several devices for testing purposes, but they could at least test on a representative of each class of device: small screen smartphone, large screen smartphone, small tablet (7"), large tablet (10"), laptop. For example: one of the apps I use on my phone every day requires that I rotate my index finger 90° in order to hit one target at the edge of the screen. A normal finger press does not work. A mouse is a high-precision pointing device. A finger is not.

                                Software Zen: delete this;

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                                • J Jochen Arndt

                                  No. They require shutting down the system to clean the screen.

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                                  Gary Wheeler
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #46

                                  Jochen Arndt wrote:

                                  They require shutting down the system to clean the screen.

                                  Not so. My touch-screen apps include a "clean" operation. It opens a full-screen window that displays a 30 second countdown and ignores mouse clicks (our touch screen hardware simulates a mouse).

                                  Software Zen: delete this;

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                                  • G Gary Wheeler

                                    Tomz_KV wrote:

                                    Are there any good reasons that developers need a touch screen dev box?

                                    Absolutely yes. I've been developing touch-screen apps since 2000, which obviously predates smartphones. I've used far too many phone apps that fail basic touch usability metrics: - Touch targets are too small - Targets are placed too closely together - Icons that indicate a target don't accurately delineate the target area - Text used as a touch target (finger obscures needed information, plus text is weak for positioning cues) - Target layout without regard to tasks I attribute a lot of this to the use of emulators and the mouse in place of testing on real devices with real fingers. I know a lot of app developers can't afford to buy several devices for testing purposes, but they could at least test on a representative of each class of device: small screen smartphone, large screen smartphone, small tablet (7"), large tablet (10"), laptop. For example: one of the apps I use on my phone every day requires that I rotate my index finger 90° in order to hit one target at the edge of the screen. A normal finger press does not work. A mouse is a high-precision pointing device. A finger is not.

                                    Software Zen: delete this;

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                                    Tomz_KV
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #47

                                    :thumbsup:Thanks for sharing your experience!

                                    TOMZ_KV

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                                    • T Tomz_KV

                                      Do you think my boss would buy me an iPhone X? :-D

                                      TOMZ_KV

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                                      Lost User
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #48

                                      If you need to write software for the iPhone X, then yes, I'd recommend getting one. Most people reacting here in this thread are reacting before they read the entire question. ..if you don't need to write software for it, then the question would be simple; are you worth that iPhone X?

                                      Bastard Programmer from Hell :suss: If you can't read my code, try converting it here[^]

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                                      • T Tomz_KV

                                        :thumbsup:Thanks for sharing your experience!

                                        TOMZ_KV

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                                        Gary Wheeler
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #49

                                        You're welcome.

                                        Software Zen: delete this;

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                                        • T Tomz_KV

                                          Most touch applications are developed using an emulator. The "touch" test is generally conducted on a real phone or pad. Are there any good reasons that developers need a touch screen dev box?

                                          TOMZ_KV

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                                          Didier Aubin
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #50

                                          I think it is not necessary :) Developers only need good laptop/pc. Touch screen is suitable for designer :laugh:

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