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Microsoft gives thumbs-up to new user interfaces

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In a move that won't surprise dedicated Blackberry users, Microsoft Research has developed two thumb-driven user interfaces for smartphones and PDAs. What distinguishes the Microsoft UIs (developed with University of Maryland researchers) from other thumb-based systems is that the software is designed to let users control their devices solely with their thumbs, or rather with just one thumb. One UI, dubbed AppLens, uses a tabular "fish-eye" approach to access nine applications; the other, LaunchTile, uses zooming with thirty-six apps. No word yet on whether the system can be easily used by lefties, or if you're forced to use your right thumb as is the case with most thumb-driven devices.