Is the Apple Touch Bar really worth the hype?
When I questioned my friends about Apple’s touch bar to gain an outside perspective. They voiced that the design was interesting but the functionality did not offer enough backing for them to purchase the touch bar. The new MacBook Pro’s includes a touch bar to promote easy access to the keyboard shortcuts. The bar offers the option of accessing the computer controls in a unique way that removes the buttons and declutters the keyboard.
It does offer a lot of neat features like auto-complete suggestions for words when typing, or corrections for misspelled words. In this sense, it is very comparable to the autocorrect feature on the iPhones. With its easily accessible touch screen features, you are able to select a variety of different options that your typical computer may not offer. You can adjust your brightness and sound to the exact setting of your choice by sliding your finger across the bar and access all the emoticons. Further features like Siri which was originally found on the iPhone allow a touch-free option when an individual’s hands are tied up.
All these features are great and offer the potential to quicken the completion of tasks. However, I have had the touch bar since it has come out and I don’t find myself reaching to using it. It does seem like a marketing strategy to squeeze more money out of apple lovers. I don't think the enhancements offered grant the purchase of a completely new computer.
I do like having physical buttons because I know they will always be present on the keyboard and I won't have to learn and adopt a new method of working.
I often find that I have to add additional maneuvers to complete a task. For example, if I want to brighten the display, I would have to click on the brightness tab then manually slide the setting. That is the best-case scenario, sometimes the bar has other features open and you would have to navigate to the brightness tab. The original is more straightforward, I could complete this task in a single push of a button. No hassle. The location of the brightness would always be in the same location.
In conclusion, the idea is strong and adds a cool factor to the keyboard. However, usability is overall more important because the main purpose of the computer is to get work completed in the most convenient and direct way. I personally view the touch bar as only a bonus feature more than a necessity to have.
This article was written in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the Fall 2020 section of DMD 3035 — Interaction Design at the University of Connecticut, Digital Media & Design Department
