Creating the 'perfect' UltraNav and optimization *PICTURES*

[micrex22]

Throughout the UltraNav history there have been many major improvements and changes. I consider the T6x version of the UltraNav to have some of the best highlights and features (as a user placing emphasis on the TrackPoint and the TouchPad).

However, one of my largest complaints as a one-handed user of the TrackPoint is the distance it takes me to move my thumb from the middle scroll to either left or right click (since I use all three buttons constantly with my thumb). Therefore, optimizing the distance it takes to travel your thumb between all three buttons with the least amonunt of contortion is desirable.

After thinking it through I believe this would be a better implementation:

(I hope the moderators will excuse a 2 KB image in-line)

This arrangement allows maximum surface area on the left and right click buttons while moving the 'raised' area of the middle button lower down increasing accessibility and reducing the thumb contortion output. The gradients outline the 'raised' areas of the buttons. Also this arranagement looks a lot more aesthetic than Lenovo's current implementation which is in the inverse of this.

Here I have created a diagram outlining three major UltraNav implementations and some notes for optimization:
http://i.imgur.com/t6uGKri.png

Does anyone else agree -- or have any other thoughts about how the UltraNav could be optimized?

[Summilux]

This design seems to have the left and right clicks too close to each other, in addition to having the middle click set like the two other buttons.

Your proposal thus necessitates less travel distance for the thumb, yes, but at the cost of less tactile differentiation between all buttons: "Which button is my thumb on? Left or right click? Or even middle click maybe?"

Whereas with my X220's trackpoint, I can rest my right thumb's phalanx in-between the left and right clicks. And I can immediately feel that to make a right click I shall use my phalanx; to make a left click I shall use the tip of my thumb; and for the middle click, for which there's no confusion possible since this button is inverted, I shall use the underside of my thumb.

[600X]

I agree with my previous poster, it would be to hard to distinguish between left and right click. Also, on my T60 trackpoint buttons I do not have to move my thumb to be able to press down either of the 3 buttons, so I don't see any point in redesigning anything.