By Ina Fried, 2 July 2009 09:02
NEWS
...an entirely new notion for Windows, although Windows 7 is the first to support using two fingers at the same time. In the early days of Vista's development, when it was still code-named Longhorn, Microsoft envisioned the tablet PC market expanding to include touch-enabled devices.
"I'm not sure that it ever delivered on that promise," said NextWindow CEO Al Monro. "There really weren't any of the [software makers] that got behind it."
Although that continues to be a challenge, Monro notes the market has changed considerably - most notably with the introduction of Apple's iPhone.
"That really brought touch into the mainstream," Monro said.
It also broke down a psychological barrier, Monro said, the notion that computer screens were something touching. NextWindow has its origins making large touchscreen displays for things like retail kiosks. Not too long ago, he said, the company had to put signs near its installations that said "I'm a touchscreen. Touch me."
"You had to really scream it out," he said. "Now people just expect it."
The question now is whether software makers on the PC side will embrace touch interfaces in the way that those who design software for the iPhone have done.
As is often the case with new technology, it's sort of a chicken-and-egg problem, Monro acknowledges. Software makers don't take the time to adopt touch interfaces because not enough touchscreen PCs are sold, while the PCs are a tough sell because there is not enough software.
Monro said he still doesn't have a good feel when that cycle will break. "People aren't going to buy touchscreen unless there are a range of things [they can do]."
For its part, Microsoft has done a couple things. By supporting touch at the operating system level, most applications should allow touch control of at least basic functions such as resizing windows, scrolling, and moving the cursor.
The company has also created a "touch pack" that computer makers can include on their systems. The software collection includes some casual games as well as small applications that have proved popular in Microsoft's other multitouch computer - its tabletop Surface machine for restaurants, hotels, and attractions.
Monro also disputes the idea that there needs to be one killer application. Rather, he said, what the industry needs is for a variety of software makers to take the plunge. Mapping, painting, and even social networking can all be better, he said.
"There are just going to be a variety of things that are easier to do with touch," he said.
Comments
There are 5 comments. Join the discussion
1. Gy Reynolds
Touch just will not work in an ergonomicaly setup desktop environment. If you follow all the guidelines you will not be able to reach to touch the screen and certainly not for prolonged interaction. Thus I hate to say it but in an office environment where Health and Safety legislation applies, Touch will inevitably be turned off as it poses a helath and safety risk to users, with all that implies for RSI and insurance premiums.
The only place that I can see it working is in a kiosk type environment, such as digital photo printing terminals where it would allow customers to edit images withoyt the need for a keyboad, mouse or tracker ball.
2. anonymous
Re Mac multi-touch - I'm not an avid Mac user but I believe on the latest MacBooks, the user can user multi-touch on the new glide-pads to rotate and so on.
3. karen challinor
touch will take off when there are two things
1 - an application that uses touch and makes day to day use of the PC easier - the fabled and still elusive killer app
and
2 - a relatively cheap add on device that clips unobtrusively to an existing screen of any size, providing a multi point touch screen interface via usb, without obscuring the screen
otherwise it's just a rich kids toy at worst or a prop on tv programs at best
don't get me wrong I've seen Jeff Han's demonstrations of the technology and it's as impressive as hell but applications are lacking and people aren't going to throw away perfectly good equipment so we'll need a retrofittable interface that's cheap
otherwise a mouse is good enough for 99.9% of most peoples requirements and it's cheaper on screen cleaner too
4. drew stephenson
personally i would use a touchscreen on my laptop an awful lot. Probably a fair bit on my PC as well, particularly when using graphics and music packages. I currently have a bamboo tablet that i use as a mouse for a lot of these things.
Basically i really hate the mouse as an input tool and would use anything else if it's available!
I agree with Karen about the retro-fitting thing though, i'd buy one tomorrow and (whisper it) it might even be enough to tempt me to windows 7
5. anonymous
Now if the touch screen was moved to the desktop as a graphics tablet replacement it would be useful. It would need good resolution, be both a replacement for the mouse while still allowing the mouse when wanted, various sizes to fit crowded spaces up to enormous for drafting table use, then it would need to be much less expensive than the current graphic tablets. Still niche but a bigger niche.