Larger gesture area available on bezel?

[Guest trevor432990]

As a confirmed gadget freak I was watching the most recent 'Click' programme (BBC 15/1) and during their report about the CES exhibition in Las Vega they had a slot about the new Blackberry tablet and the salesperson they interviewed was at pains to stress that their tablet device allows the user to carry out gesture controls beyond the normal visible screen area onto the bezel (or frame as I call it).

It occurred to me that the Vega might also potentially be able to do this and I was wondering if our Vega support team colleagues or tech gurus here can offer an opinion on whether it might be possible to expand (by software tweak presumably) the area of the touchscreen beyond the size of the visible area?

If possible it would open up a whole realm of possibilities including one of my chief misgivings of tablet usage the dreaded touch screen scrolling as that could then be done on the bezel/frame instead and so no more accidental option selections, etc.

Hope this is a possibility ;)

[Guest Higgsy]

As a confirmed gadget freak I was watching the most recent 'Click' programme (BBC 15/1) and during their report about the CES exhibition in Las Vega they had a slot about the new Blackberry tablet and the salesperson they interviewed was at pains to stress that their tablet device allows the user to carry out gesture controls beyond the normal visible screen area onto the bezel (or frame as I call it).

It occurred to me that the Vega might also potentially be able to do this and I was wondering if our Vega support team colleagues or tech gurus here can offer an opinion on whether it might be possible to expand (by software tweak presumably) the area of the touchscreen beyond the size of the visible area?

If possible it would open up a whole realm of possibilities including one of my chief misgivings of tablet usage the dreaded touch screen scrolling as that could then be done on the bezel/frame instead and so no more accidental option selections, etc.

Hope this is a possibility ;)

i don't think the touch screen capibility extends much past the actual display. I can scroll using the edge of the screen though which is fairly handy, so think there is a 2 to 3mm overlap.

[Guest trevor432990]

i don't think the touch screen capibility extends much past the actual display. I can scroll using the edge of the screen though which is fairly handy, so think there is a 2 to 3mm overlap.

That's interesting will give that a try but it would be nice if it extended a bit further but as you say much depends on whether size of touchscreen is limited by the hardware or software settings.

Update:- Don't seem to have that 2mm overlap on mine unfortunately

Edited January 16, 2011 by trevor432990

[Guest extrememonkey]

If the main reason you want this is for web browsing then most browsers will let you use the volume up and down buttons to scroll.... Miren browser is set to do this automatically, and others can be changed to do it in there settings.......

[Guest trevor432990]

If the main reason you want this is for web browsing then most browsers will let you use the volume up and down buttons to scroll.... Miren browser is set to do this automatically, and others can be changed to do it in there settings.......

Thanks yes I understand that this option is available within the browsers but I prefer to swipe wherever possible ;)

[Guest .stu]

As a confirmed gadget freak I was watching the most recent 'Click' programme (BBC 15/1) and during their report about the CES exhibition in Las Vega they had a slot about the new Blackberry tablet and the salesperson they interviewed was at pains to stress that their tablet device allows the user to carry out gesture controls beyond the normal visible screen area onto the bezel (or frame as I call it).

It occurred to me that the Vega might also potentially be able to do this and I was wondering if our Vega support team colleagues or tech gurus here can offer an opinion on whether it might be possible to expand (by software tweak presumably) the area of the touchscreen beyond the size of the visible area?

If possible it would open up a whole realm of possibilities including one of my chief misgivings of tablet usage the dreaded touch screen scrolling as that could then be done on the bezel/frame instead and so no more accidental option selections, etc.

Hope this is a possibility ;)

I'm not sure it would be such a good idea at would mean having to hold the tablet purely by the back without allowing any part of your hands from touching the edge of the bezel, else it might pick up a touch at the edge of the screen and think you are trying to zoom.

[Guest trevor432990]

I'm not sure it would be such a good idea at would mean having to hold the tablet purely by the back without allowing any part of your hands from touching the edge of the bezel, else it might pick up a touch at the edge of the screen and think you are trying to zoom.

Fair point but I am not thinking we'd use the whole bezel but just extend the touchscreen say 10mm beyond that of the visible screen which should give enough grip area still ;)

[Guest Nik Louch]

It occurred to me that the Vega might also potentially be able to do this

Why?

[Guest Restless_UK]

Touch screens are made the same size as the screen in a sort of layer system, so the screen is at the bottom then touch panel then the protective glass/plastic.. in other words the visable plastc is just that it doesn't have the touch panel under it to pick up your fingers. RIM and the Playbook must have extended there touch layer to cover outside of the screen so that it will pick up the gestures.. it other words it's restricted by the hardware layers not the software as to detecting your fingers and movements. it's not a Vega but below is the layers in an IPOD Touch

http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/ipod-t...screen-self.gif

[Guest trevor432990]

Hmmm thanks for the input guys ... I guess only the Advent team could advise us if the touchscreen layer on the Vega extends beyond the visible area as well. What with changing the way the USB port works etc. I'm learning not take anything for granted as new ways of using the device are being discovered all the time. ;)

[Guest warriorscot]

I really doubt it as doing that would add to the manufacturing cost. Mines has a tiny overlap which suggests to keep a hardware limitation not software.

[Guest yabbas]

Not interested in this myself as my vega's permanently in its folio type sleeve cover. But you could try using some conductive tape that overlaps the edge.

[Guest beaker656]

The digitizers are the exact size as the display portion that it sits over. For Rim to have built this in to their new device, it would have been designed that way. The digitizer would have been a non standard size meaning its meant to be that way and then there is the cost factor.

Given the low cost of the Vega and the fact its been in the public domain for several months, I'd say it's a big no.

[Guest Nik Louch]

I'm astounded this is even still being debated. There is no reason to suggest the touch-controls extend beyond the visible area just because another product by a different manufacturer does. It's about as likely as my TV being able to be controlled by my sneezes!

[Guest montage]

Is this being seriously debated? The bezzle is around 40% of the area of the viewable screen... why would they put 40% more digitizer than required.