Paul David Olson » Google Circular zoom can beat multi-touch UI http://www.pauldavidolson.com/blog Business, the Google, Sailing, Ad(s). Thu, 02 Feb 2012 15:23:40 +0000 en hourly 1 Why Google Android Doesn’t Need Multi-Touch — There’s A Better Metaphor For Zooming http://www.pauldavidolson.com/blog/2009/why-google-android-doesnt-need-multi-touch-theres-a-better-metaphor-for-zooming/ http://www.pauldavidolson.com/blog/2009/why-google-android-doesnt-need-multi-touch-theres-a-better-metaphor-for-zooming/#comments Tue, 29 Dec 2009 00:17:48 +0000 pdo http://www.pauldavidolson.com/blog/?p=174 Every Google Android phone review includes the same refrain — the phone is great, but it doesn’t include multi-touch support.  That’s because Apple created the pinch-to-zoom metaphor first on the iPhone and now that’s what everyone thinks of when they want to zoom on their smartphone.  But it doesn’t have to be that way — you just need a better metaphor (and better implementation).

For decades, SLR camera users have zoomed in and out on their cameras with a simple twist.  Twist to zoom (or circular zoom) makes sense as an alternative metaphor on smartphones too.  BUT, Google needs to ditch the double click step.  If I initiate a rotational movement on my phone, it needs to just start zooming.  I shouldn’t have to take a prepare-to-zoom action.

And rotations?  Tap to establish a pivot, rotate to spin the frame.  Every other rotational motion on the screen should be treated as a zoom.

Carnival at Dusk 8
Creative Commons License photo credit: Effster

Then you don’t need multi-touch, because you have a UI that beats it.  You can now stop at a red light, spin your thumb around your phone, and zoom in to your Google Map.  You don’t need to take your other hand off the wheel to perform the action.  The UI is now better than Apple’s, and nobody (except iPhone owners) is going to whine about that.

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