1) Regardless of the specific operating system, multi-touch operation doesn't make sense on a desktop or traditional laptop. Just like a traditional one-finger touchscreen, it is completely impractical to operate a computer with your arms stretched out in front of you. I don't understand how this is going to be taken advantage of in Windows 7 other than on specialized tablet devices. The limited form of multi-touch on OSX only works because it uses an enhanced laptop trackpad. Does anyone have any more info about windows 7 multi-touch and how they plan to use it?
2) Even in a tablet/mini-tablet form-factor, I'm not yet convinced that a multi-touch based interface based on a new UI paradigm will entirely replace the traditional cursor and mouse. Don't get me wrong, I think Microsoft's Surface and the iPhone UI is certainly innovative and exciting, building on Jeff Han's stuff and other conceptual work done like the "Bumptop" desktop, but most of what I've seen presented with multi-touch was really only applicable to a handful of applications (navigating maps, manipulating 3D models, interacting with photos) and entertainment purposes. I'm sure there are many working feverishly on this, but I've yet to even see an early concept prototype of a practical general-purpose interface based on multi-touch gestures.
3) I know many on Engadget hate Apple, but I'm not a fanboy and I don't hate Microsoft. But the reality is that Microsoft has never really excelled at UI work, especially when you get outside the tried and true methods. The new Office "ribbon" and some of the new Windows 7 desktop features look nice, but then again look at the implementation of window switching in Apple's Expose versus Vista "Flip3D". I just don't believe Microsoft is capable of creating a truly functional, intuitive, next-generation UI paradigm based upon multi-touch. Apple has many flaws and problems --- I'll be the first one to point them out -- but one thing they do well is interface design, especially developing new features. I'm sure they are cooking up something in their labs right now with regards to all of this that will take OSX multi-touch to a totally new level. I'm not naive enough to think Apple and MS (not to mention Canonical) could actually work together on a new interface standard, but It sure would help computing. I don't want to see two completely different gesture-based interfaces.. it will confuse the hell out of all of us. If nothing else, MS should take the backseat on this one and let Apple and other third parties create the new spec and just the basics of it.
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1) Regardless of the specific operating system, multi-touch operation doesn't make sense on a desktop or traditional laptop. Just like a traditional one-finger touchscreen, it is completely impractical to operate a computer with your arms stretched out in front of you. I don't understand how this is going to be taken advantage of in Windows 7 other than on specialized tablet devices. The limited form of multi-touch on OSX only works because it uses an enhanced laptop trackpad. Does anyone have any more info about windows 7 multi-touch and how they plan to use it?
2) Even in a tablet/mini-tablet form-factor, I'm not yet convinced that a multi-touch based interface based on a new UI paradigm will entirely replace the traditional cursor and mouse. Don't get me wrong, I think Microsoft's Surface and the iPhone UI is certainly innovative and exciting, building on Jeff Han's stuff and other conceptual work done like the "Bumptop" desktop, but most of what I've seen presented with multi-touch was really only applicable to a handful of applications (navigating maps, manipulating 3D models, interacting with photos) and entertainment purposes. I'm sure there are many working feverishly on this, but I've yet to even see an early concept prototype of a practical general-purpose interface based on multi-touch gestures.
3) I know many on Engadget hate Apple, but I'm not a fanboy and I don't hate Microsoft. But the reality is that Microsoft has never really excelled at UI work, especially when you get outside the tried and true methods. The new Office "ribbon" and some of the new Windows 7 desktop features look nice, but then again look at the implementation of window switching in Apple's Expose versus Vista "Flip3D". I just don't believe Microsoft is capable of creating a truly functional, intuitive, next-generation UI paradigm based upon multi-touch. Apple has many flaws and problems --- I'll be the first one to point them out -- but one thing they do well is interface design, especially developing new features. I'm sure they are cooking up something in their labs right now with regards to all of this that will take OSX multi-touch to a totally new level. I'm not naive enough to think Apple and MS (not to mention Canonical) could actually work together on a new interface standard, but It sure would help computing. I don't want to see two completely different gesture-based interfaces.. it will confuse the hell out of all of us. If nothing else, MS should take the backseat on this one and let Apple and other third parties create the new spec and just the basics of it.
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