Behind the times
Key Takeaways
Webcams are terrible.
And its not just webcams.
Most peripherals you plug into your machine are similarly vintage in terms of technology.
Erlon Silva - TRI Digital / Getty Images
“Helps me manipulate models like I was holding them in my hand.”
And remember, the webcams built into laptops, even the very latest M1 MacBooks, arent any better.
What About Mouse & Keyboard?
The difference between mobile and desktop isagainhuge.
Apples iPad, for comparison, has a touchscreen.
And thats not all.
Why is the mouse the default?
People just use what theyre used to using.
Trackballs, vertical mice, and other alternate designs are usually only tried by people who already have RSI.
One exception is the stylus.
Or, really, the Wacom stylus, because Wacom has the market sewn up.
This is a pad and pen used in place of a mouse.
UI designer and photographer Ian Tindale toldLifewirethat he uses “a Wacom.
Because, how else?”
For him, its about using a pen to edit photographs.
But a Wacom tablet and pen also are perfect for RSI sufferers.
Using a pen keeps the wrist in a more comfortable, less-rotated position.
I use one for this exact reason, with a Magic Trackpad on the left of the keyboard.
Thats another tip for RSI sufferers: just switch hands.
It feels odd at first, but persevere, and it becomes as easy as using your dominant hand.
What about that webcam?
Johnson says that webcams probably will never get any better.
And built-in webcams are commodity products.
Or were, until this year.
You, or someone you know, probably has used an iPhone sitting in a drawer somewhere.
