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Thread: Re: screen resolutions, was Serif vs sans-serif

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From: Alastair Campbell
Date: Thu, Jan 04 2007 8:20AM
Subject: Re: screen resolutions, was Serif vs sans-serif
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Emma Duke-Williams mentioned:
> a CRT monitor that was 800 by 600 pixels. (And I think a 15"
> screen).
And:
> a 1400 pixel screen - and a 12.1" screen.

That's a fairly major change in resolution (rover 25%?), without much of
a change in the interface sizes.

I think we are going to hear quite a lot about zoomable interfaces in
the next couple of years: Apple recently patented some "resolution
independent" interface methods.

I'm not sure if they will appear in the net version of OSX, but we can
already see the ideas filtering through to web design with IE7's zoom.
Of course, Opera has had this for years, but it's nice to see it getting
through to the desktop in general.

Kind regards,

-Alastair

--
Alastair Campbell | Director of User Experience

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From: Austin, Darrel
Date: Thu, Jan 04 2007 8:40AM
Subject: Re: screen resolutions, was Serif vs sans-serif
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> > a CRT monitor that was 800 by 600 pixels. (And I think a 15"
> > screen).
> And:
> > a 1400 pixel screen - and a 12.1" screen.
>
> That's a fairly major change in resolution (rover 25%?),
> without much of a change in the interface sizes.

Yes and no. Using sloppy math, it's about a 100% increase in PPI. Which
seems like a lot, but not compared to the pace that nearly every other
portion of computing has increased.

And even todays super-high density displays still aren't pushing
anything close to the resolution of a bad laser printer.

> I think we are going to hear quite a lot about zoomable
> interfaces in the next couple of years: Apple recently
> patented some "resolution independent" interface methods.

There's been talk of this for years. Hopefully it will happen soon.
Maybe next week at MacWorld? Eh, probably not. iPods get more buzz than
better text on screen would. ;o)

-Darrel

From: Alastair Campbell
Date: Thu, Jan 04 2007 9:30AM
Subject: Re: screen resolutions, was Serif vs sans-serif
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Austin, Darrel wrote:
> it's about a 100% increase in PPI. Which
> seems like a lot, but not compared to the pace that nearly every other
> portion of computing has increased.

True, but the interface hasn't really changed resolution, so if there
were a 400 DPI screen, it would be unusable!

> There's been talk of this for years. Hopefully it will happen soon.

It's going to have to if they produce better screens, it's a minor
chicken & egg situation...

Kind regards,

-Alastair

--
Alastair Campbell | Director of User Experience

Nomensa Email Disclaimer:
http://www.nomensa.com/email-disclaimer.html