Touchpad, Tenji, and Tactile Cues
Detail of the T400s tactile cue feature
Touchpad texture has gone relatively unnoticed in the world of ThinkPad design, and perhaps the industry in general. TrackPoint fans still wonder why we include a pad at all, and would not likely contemplate the advantage a texture could create for those who use them. If you are a pad user, and there are a lot out there, you know that the feel of the pad and the boundries of the pad are both important considerations. No pad user wants to look to find the pad, they want to feel it while looking at the screen. The desire to thin down the T400s required us to use a totally flush pad. That means no raised borders to define the active area. We were literally on the hunt for fractions of a millimeter. Even the X300 pad was allowed to be recessed by a fraction of a millimeter. This flush requirement neccesitated that we needed to create a new tactile means of locating the pad and its boundries.
The texture we introduced on the T400s was inspired by several things. One of them was the innovative yellow paving blocks used in Japanese train stations and sidewalks to guide or warn visually impaired pedestrians. Every time I visit Japan I am intrigued by these blocks. The square Tenji block system was invented in Japan by Seiichi Miyake in 1965 and first used in Okayama City in 1967. The oblong raised pattern indicate places, and in what direction, it is safe to walk confidently. The “warning” blocks with the round raised dots indicate edges, corners or other places where greater care or caution is required. The tactile cues developed for these unique blocks help everyone stay clear of train platform edges, crosswalk dropoffs, and other related hazzards. Sighted or not, it’s really quite amazing how well these blocks work. You can easily discern the difference without looking.
Tenji paving blocks in a Tokyo train station
We studied a tremendous number of seemingly identical design variants of the dotted texture before we decided on the final version. Bumps varied by diameter, height, spacing, gloss, and even hardness. Every sample was evaluated by appearance and feel criteria. One test was to compare the surrounding palmrest texture to the pad samples to ensure that you could detect when your fingers moved beyond the pad boundries. We always did this with our eyes closed and then open. We also wanted to make certain the texture was pleasing to touch and look at. Many alternatives were rejected because they were too flashy looking, felt like sandpaper, or just made people giggle. In case you are wondering, we never considered making the pad yellow.
Sampling of prototype tactile samples
As the product got closer to release we were also able to test the texture with multiple users for extended periods of time. The feedback we gathered was very positive. They were able to detect the border easily and often commented that the subtle texture gave them a sense of precision as they moved their finger across the pad. The bumps provide indication of distance travelled and speed of movement. We found this effect to be of particular interest with multitouch gesture input.
It’s always rewarding to see our efforts noticed in the media and product reviews. Even more fun if the comments are positive. Nilay Patel at Engadget recently reviewed the T400s and loved the product and the touchpad design. This is my favorite quote from the review.
“a new texturized multitouch trackpad that’s one of the best we’ve ever used. Seriously. In contrast to the hyper-smooth glass pads found on the MacBook Pro, the T400s’s pad is covered in tiny nubs, which feel amazing under your fingers and make gestures like pinch-to-zoom feel more precise, even if they actually contribute nothing. It’s pretty great — we wish all trackpads were like this.”
I hope you liked reading about how we developed the new touchpad texture, and that you like the resulting design. I intend to keep sharing stories like this one about how we created the T400s design updates. Keep watching Design Matters for updates over the next few weeks.
David Hill
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Lenovo H320 desktop
July 1st, 2009 9:50 am
[...] [Design Matters] SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: “David Hill speaks on the ThinkPad T400s touchpad”, url: [...]
July 1st, 2009 1:06 pm
Very interesting article, David. Thanks very much for sharing these insights to the design process.
I have two ThinkPads (a T61 and X61) and have been thinking about upgrading. The X300 models are very appealing, but I have to say the T400s will be the computer I probably purchase. I really like the thoughtful changes (keyboard, trackpad, etc.) that you made for this computer.
July 1st, 2009 2:04 pm
David, I never cease to be amazed at the attention to detail that you and your team devote to the design of ThinkPads. Even though I detest TouchPads (and disable them the moment I power up a new ThinkPad) I’m grateful for all the efforts you make to continuously improve an already highly-refined line of notebook computers.
Bravo!
July 1st, 2009 2:16 pm
Chris, Glad you like what we have done. The T400s is an amazing machine. I plan on switching to one very soon.
July 1st, 2009 2:18 pm
Dorian, Thanks for the kind words. Creating thoughtful design like this is a true joy for me and my team.
July 1st, 2009 5:56 pm
this is an improvement i can appreciate. i use the trackpad solely for scrolling and never did like the lifeless sheet of plastic used on ultranav systems (or anyone’s systems, for that matter). this looks to be a welcome change.
now if only someone could improve the tablet surface on the W700 models. it’s WAY too rough for precision work and eats up pen nibs like crazy compared to standard drawing tablets.
July 1st, 2009 9:49 pm
it is a true joy to see that the Thinkpads under Lenovo are undertaking an evolutionary approach towards product improvement.. rather than revolutionary one of other laptop companies… this is one of the reason that i only buy Thinkpad above all other…. i use to own a couple of Macbook pro, but now with the integrated batteries, they are no longer a purchase that i sort after..
Thinkpad all the way….
July 2nd, 2009 12:43 am
Now that’s innovation. Great job, David!
July 2nd, 2009 2:56 am
Again, this shows how the Thinkpad line, through the years, has been at the forefront of laptop research and development while ensuring that scores of loyalists get to appreciate the subtle, if not evolutionary, changes every new iteration of Thinkpad acquires.
For the past year and a half, my T61 has never failed to provide me my demands of having to use a well-built portable PC and at the same time amaze me with its classic beauty and aura. My T61 has been to all kinds of places and scenarios and it has withstood not only the test of time but also proved to everyone why getting a Thinkpad is the best investment when it comes to providing users an unparalleled mobile computing experience.
I plan to use my trusty T61 for four to five years. But if I am only given a chance to upgrade to the new T400s (provided that I have the resources to do so) I’ll never think twice of putting my hard-earned money on a Thinkpad.
Thanks David for all these wonderful posts and, more especially, the work you’ve put into past, present and future Thinkpads. Never cease to be an inspiration to the millions of Thinkpad users around the globe!
All the best!
July 2nd, 2009 3:41 am
I do like reading about how your team developed the new touchpad texture:the way you come up with a new idea,the way you test a new design…these all make sense a lot,very good inspiration for designers!
July 2nd, 2009 7:01 am
[...] posted earlier on the innovative data collection Lenovo did for a keyboard redesign. A new post on DesignMatters details the design and user testing of a new touch pad using tactile [...]
July 2nd, 2009 10:11 am
Articles like this remind me why I enjoy this blog and my Thinkpad so much.
July 2nd, 2009 10:13 am
globalmente mesmo, aqui de Guarantã do Norte, Mato Grosso, Brasil, tem um fã ha muitos anos dos ThinkPad’s.
July 3rd, 2009 10:17 am
David, is it just me, or is there a gap in the bumps near the right and bottom edges of the trackpad? What do those serve for?
July 3rd, 2009 11:51 am
Ray,
I believe that those are scroll areas — up and down, left and right.
July 4th, 2009 9:40 pm
David,
I appreciate Lenovo’s effort to improve the touchpad, however…
What is the reason that Lenovo still integrates both Trackpoint and Touchpad on the T-series?
Wouldn’t it be better if you offered either the one or the other option? I can’t imagine this is a matter of costs thinking of the countless configuration options you offer.
I’ve never used the touchpad and probably never will since the trackpoint is one of the main reasons I exclusively used Thinkpads for the last 8 years. If I wanted a really good touchpad I’d probably get a MacBook
.
The current setup is neither fish nor fowl. It’s impractical and looks ugly in my oppinion.
I think, you’d make a lot of touchpad users very happy if you dramatically increased its size and removed the trackpoint(-keys) respectively offered a trackpoint only solution for the other users.
…Just a proposal
Regards
July 6th, 2009 3:11 am
I would appreciate if Lenovo would also look out for improvements for others than “visually impaired pedestrians”
and therefore would care for high quality screens in Thinkpads.
July 10th, 2009 12:53 am
[...] new design seldom has one inspiration, and sometimes it takes several. In the article “Touchpad, Tenji, and Tactile Cues” from the “Design Matters” blog, designers talk about taking inspiration from subway paving [...]
July 10th, 2009 12:53 am
[...] ????????????????????????????????Design Matter?Touchpad, Tenji, and Tactile Cues?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? [...]
July 16th, 2009 8:30 pm
[...] Design Matters » Blog Archive » Touchpad, Tenji, and Tactile Cues [...]
November 22nd, 2009 11:28 am
OK, I’ll be the lone dissenting voice. I am a long-time touch pad user who does not see the redesign as a good thing. The point of the touchpad is the near-effortless movement of the cursor, a point which is ruined by the textural modification. Instead of gliding effortlessly across the pad, I now experience friction and decreased control. The Trackpoint remains the less desirable option (I have never had the control I feel with the Touchpad), but unfortunately the Touchpad is no longer the clear winner it once was.
December 8th, 2009 10:20 am
would be cool to see it in coming tablet series,
January 16th, 2010 6:16 am
[...] Da beim T400s das Touchpad auf einer Ebene mit der Handauflage liegt haben die Leute von Lenovo eine Textur dafür entwickelt. So soll man leichter zwischen Touchpad und Gehäuse unterscheiden [...]
February 21st, 2010 12:30 pm
[...] The square Tenji block system was invented in Japan by Seiichi Miyake in 1965 and first used in Okayama City in 1967. The oblong raised pattern indicate places, and in what direction, it is safe to walk confidently. The “warning” blocks with the round raised dots indicate edges, corners or other places where greater care or caution is required. The tactile cues developed for these unique blocks help everyone stay clear of train platform edges, crosswalk dropoffs, and other related hazzards. Sighted or not, it’s really quite amazing how well these blocks work. You can easily discern the difference without looking. http://lenovoblogs.com/designmatters/?p=1659 [...]
June 8th, 2010 1:53 pm
I was wondering how everyone seemed to like the new textured touchpad. For me, when I work for long periods of time, it seems really irritating with all the friction it produces and it seems like I really have to exert myself more to move my fingers. Also after using for long periods of time, my fingers seem to become sore due to the texture.
I really hoped that the thinkpad would give customers the option of smooth touchpad vs textured one.
I have been a thinkpad user since last 10 years but I am thinking to shift to HP or Dell because of this irritating textured touchpad.
July 15th, 2010 12:25 pm
[...] how, and why, we created the texture for our latest ThinkPad touchpads. I wrote a detailed blog on this topic a few months ago. I hope you enjoy this behind the scenes look at the inspiration [...]
August 12th, 2010 12:25 am
I just received shipment of my T-510, and I probably will have to return it. The textured touchpad is very irritating to my fingers. I can barely stand to use it. I can’t imagine surviving for hours. Don’t you have a smooth one. I would like to stay with Lenovo.
Alan