New digital scopes with centered screen for improved user interface - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: pascal_sweden
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 27, 2015, 08:54:09 am
content: Interesting observation actually, that manufacturers left the "screen in the middle" concept for digital scopes. It looks good, and it seems to provide a better user interface as well.Would be cool if some manufacturer takes up the old concept again.Here is how the Rigol DS1054Z-C with screen in the center would look like. All rights reserved

author: cyr
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 27, 2015, 09:03:06 am
content: I'm not sure I agree that would provide a better user interface, with all the controls on the right you can adjust everything with your right hand without blocking your view of the screen.Seems to me that's the reason most devices (not just scopes) are layed out that way, display on the left, most controls on the right (or perhaps below the screen).

author: plazma
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 27, 2015, 09:05:33 am
content: Using the left buttons and knobs with your right hand would cover the screen. IMHO it's good to have most buttons/knobs on the right.

author: pascal_sweden
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 27, 2015, 09:07:59 am
content: What about left-handed people? From that perspective they could actually make scopes for left-handed people where the screen is on the right sideFunny to see that this discussion is going on between Norway, Sweden and Finland.Almost all Nordic countries are represented

author: RobertHolcombe
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 27, 2015, 09:18:40 am
content: If they go to the trouble of making lefty scopes surely they can make some upside down ones for Australians

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 27, 2015, 09:21:37 am
content: It would mean moving your hand a lot more between sides. Possibly a better layout is what Yokogawa used to have - screen at the top with everything below - this suits left & right handers without blocking the screen.

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 27, 2015, 09:46:58 am
content: Quote from: mikeselectricstuff on April 27, 2015, 09:21:37 amTouche.

author: PA0PBZ
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 27, 2015, 09:47:14 am
content: Quote from: RobertHolcombe on April 27, 2015, 09:18:40 amIf you turn the scope upside down the controls will be on the left side... just saying...

author: pascal_sweden
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 27, 2015, 09:57:44 am
content: Quote from: mikeselectricstuff on April 27, 2015, 09:21:37 amExcellent! That is indeed the best layout.Now we just have to wait for a DS1054Z-P in portrait editionIt certainly is feasible as you can see from the mockup in attachment.

author: pascal_sweden
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 27, 2015, 10:50:09 am
content: On the other hand, it can have some disadvantages as well. You always have to look up to the screen, and some people might prefer to have the screen at the same height as the controls.So the current layout of most scopes with the screen on the left, is probably the best layout anyhow.

author: cyr
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 27, 2015, 10:55:37 am
content: I honestly think the reason nearly all scopes are layed out the way they are is exactly that, most people prefer it. I don't think nearly all major scope manufacturers have standardized on this for the last several decades without ever doing any market research or usability studies.I certainly like the status quo

author: pascal_sweden
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 27, 2015, 11:00:33 am
content: You mean status quo, as in an ice hockey match between Sweden and Finland?

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 27, 2015, 11:12:33 am
content: Quote from: pascal_sweden on April 27, 2015, 10:50:09 amThe yokogawa layout is good for scopes that live on the bench, much less so for use on an an equipment shelf, which is usually a more efficient bench layout.

author: nitro2k01
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 27, 2015, 11:23:25 am
content: If you want to make a scope for left-handed people, do so, but this is just the worst of two worlds I think. Though I should perhaps withhold judgement. Maybe the wrong-handed controls do just work naturally. I've been typing on a keyboard with two hands without being ambidextrous, as have most of us. Maybe controlling the half the scope with your wrong hand isn't too much of a step up.Speaking of nothing, when I eat, I hold the knife in my left hand and fork in my right, which is apparently considered strange for someone who's right-handed.

author: pascal_sweden
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 27, 2015, 11:29:18 am
content: I was only joking about the left-handed scope, in response to the "hands in the way" remarkThe current left screen layout is good enough.The Yokogawa top screen layout is really nice, but not practical when you want to use an equipment shelf above your bench.The center screen layout is not practical, besides for a fancy looking analog clock

author: nowlan
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 27, 2015, 11:47:42 am
content: needs more touch/voice/brain activated.

author: Rick Law
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 27, 2015, 05:47:12 pm
content: How about:(1) Modules that you plug in to a case perhap. The button module can plug in to the right, and the display module can plug in to the left: so, button on right and display on left - or - if you so desire, swap them and you have left sided buttons.(2) Having used an USB scope for a while, I like a mouse-like interface. Perhaps a mouse or a remote touch pad would be rather nice. Any form of point-and-click would be better. With buttons, when doing multiple adjustments change, you have to lift you hand away from button A to move your hand to button B; then find C and fiddle and then from C to D... I found it easier to grab the mouse once and just point and click at different spots.Question is, if Scope A (fixed format) is say $500 USD, would you pay $600 just to have the above? The market for typical scope (2Ch, 1G Samples/sec, 10k-1m memory) is in my opinion too price sensitive to support much fancy stuff. The high end market (say $1K USD plus) could potentially have such fancy stuff.

author: dom0
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 27, 2015, 06:38:30 pm
content: Modularization is too expensive for mainstream scopes. One of the major reasons (IMHO) why modular scopes essentially vanished into the industrial scope / scopecorder niche.