Haptic Interfaces that do not try to trick

A Crayola Keyboard for Children.

So I often love old button interfaces, the interfaces that have well labelled buttons that go click when you tap them. One of my favourite interfaces in the world is that of the Bang and Olufsen BeoCom 1401 and 1400. The buttons are firm and they offer sublime haptic feedback.

I don't know much about the Crayola keyboard above but I love the design language and I think it is highly representative of reasonable interface design. Perhaps the grid is a little too strong on the alpha keys and perhaps the arrow set is a would take a moment to get used to but I think the idea is much more respectful of users than that of something like the new top end keyboard from Mircosoft. Interestingly as you pay more for a Microsoft keyboard the features become less stupid and in some ways the product is altogether more elegant. You would however, still have to give me one for free to get me to use it.

A really short rant with links I guess. I think interfaces, haptic or not, should not trick people unless they are tricking them into performing better (which Microsoft is obviously not doing)