"Will buyers write off new tablet PCs?" [News.com] Uh.... Yeah. Tablet PC's, based on handwriting recognition, as well as voice recognition systems each have their pros and cons, however, neither is likely to replace the keyboard any time soon.

Handwriting is convenient in the fact that it is space efficient (you write on the same surface you use to view), but it will always be slower than either the keyboard or voice recognition. The main selling point with handwriting systems is that they are closer to what people are "used to." After all, people have been writing on paper for millennia. However, this isn't really the case since more and more people have become proficient at keyboard use. Certainly, the younger generations have become more proficient with using a keyboard than with handwriting. So, because it's slow, people will opt to use a keyboard over handwriting.

If and when the bugs get worked out of voice recognition systems, these will still be forced into niches. Voice recognition certainly opens up the possibility of fast dictation; after all, very few people can type as fast as they speak. However, if noise pollution has gone up with cell phones use, imagine what will happen once voice recognition systems become commonplace on PC's. You're sitting on the plane, trying to sleep when the passenger next to you is telling his computer "the market index is the prime indicator for increased sales blah blah blah blah" as you throw his laptop across the plane and knock the flight attendant unconscious. In the real world, people don't want to hear you talking to your computer and you don't want people to hear you either. Keyboards are much quieter and allow you to keep your thoughts to yourself.

Though they both have valid niche uses, neither handwriting systems nor voice recognition systems are going to displace the good old keyboard.
12:18:25 PM