I leap onto technological bandwagons with both feet, my eyes wide open and arms outstretched to maintain my balance, just in case I don’t nail my landing.
My current bandwagon of choice is touch interface technology. I’ve slowly replaced all but one of my computers with new machines that come standard with touch interface screens. My desktops are all in-ones that run Windows 7 with 23-inch touch screens. I use touch interface for any task that doesn’t require keyboard input.
My tablets—A Sony S 32 and a Windows 7 Acer Iconia Tab W500 are all touch interface devices and I use touch controls exclusively on those devices.
My preference in portables also reflects my deep seated belief in touch interfaces. When I’m given the choice, I prefer to carry convertible laptops that allow me to combine touch input and keyboard data entry.
I believe the migration to touch interfaces will become a flood as Microsoft releases Windows 8, which offers full support of the touch interface. A full scale move to Touch is also being bolstered by increased basic memory footprints and the growing use of multicore processors. Moreover, the cost of touch screens has remained stable.
Google and its Android operating system on — designed from the beginning with touch interface technology also figure heavily into the equation.
Touch Interface support as a prime part of an operating system turbocharges its use with mainstream and vertical applications. After spending much of my career on technology’s bloody edge, I now live deep behind the avocado green curtain in rural San Diego County. What’s surprising is how ubiquitous touch computing has become. For example: On a recent trip into the village, I encountered touch interface technology at my HMO, my dry cleaners, a local orchard supplies store and a consumer electronic content supplier. That’s pretty pervasive, given my rural, rattlesnake-infested, locale.
Touch computing will become even more common in the coming 12 months and I suspect it’s going to be big news at the forthcoming Consumer Electronics Show (CES)in Las Vegas in a couple of months. Now all I need to do is to remember and wash and get all the avocado goo from my hands before sitting down to use my touch interface computers—Jim Forbes on 11/30/2011
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