Cutline Speaks

Touch and go - yes or no?

posted by The Cutline Team on May 28, 2008

At the All Things D conference in Carlsbad, Calif., Microsoft revealed a new feature in Windows 7, due out in 2010. Their tease was the new multitouch capabilities built into the next gen operating system. I've always wondered how we're going to interact with computers beyond the keyboard and mouse. The multitouch screen is perfect for the iPhone, or any device too small for a traditional keyboard, but I'm not sure I want to spend my days at work dragging my fingers across a screen.

As much as the mouse has changed the user experience, I think it really is a clumsy device and users tend to rely on it too much. The more I use programs with a smart set of keyboard shortcuts (Gmail is a perfect example of this) the more I appreciate the ability to work more quickly. And now I'm left wondering if a multitouch screen will have the same effect as a mouse - cool features but a tendency to slow down workflow? What do you think?

Tags for this post: gadgets