Is super-accuracy matters?

[johnb]

(11-18-2023 11:35 AM)Matt Agajanian Wrote:  I would hope calculators would still be around in the 22nd century and further.

The 22nd century is 77 years away; 77 years ago was 1946: slide rules, desktop mechanical calculators, computers were mostly built from relays, ENIAC was brand new and VERY "SF", the Curta handheld mechanical hadn't even been released yet.

So predicting this far in the future is difficult at best. However, my handy-dandy Time Crystal may allow me a peek or two...

I see calculators as unique devices going by the wayside, and what is now the cellphone becomes an even more general-purpose terminal. However, as technology progresses, I anticipate the touch screen also going by the wayside, for all the reasons why they are hated by most HP-lovers. Instead, I imagine that the UI of the future is a display that can dynamically change its texture, and to some degree the surface elevation of various points. So, amazingly, Plus42 or its grandchild may still be "a thing" but it causes your pocket terminal to have what seem like actual keys, complete with up/down motion, a "click", and tactile feedback.

Other software would "build" something like a joystick or track-button with 2.5 axes of motion. Or a contour graph that you could manipulate by touching. Or a set of sliders. Or whatever is needed, within the limits of the tactile/haptic input surface.

Either that... or we'll all have VR ocular and nerve implants and Skynet just materializes virtual objects for you that you can see and feel... certain less-than-legitimate "industries" will have a field day with that...