Microsoft Windows 7 Touch - An Enlarged IPAD with a Keyboard ??

The Windows 7 Touch is the latest version of windows OS with a touch screen technology. we can browse online journals, flick through photos , shuffle music by a single touch. This also comes under "Move over mouse" technology as people these days prefer do not prefer to use the mouse.

Windows 7 Touch

The differences i observed in windows touch was that the icon sizes were made much bigger than that of the normal windows. The start icon and the task bar sported similar differences as well. Microsoft claim these changes as "Finger Tip Friendly".

In my opinion, the Windows 7 Touch is similar to an Enlarged IPAD with a keyboard attached. This technology will not help the user but rather give discomfort because,

From HCI's Perspective

• Although the multi touch is an advanced HCI feature, Using your fingers on a screen which is fixed to a position will create discomfort. The screen is fixed vertically and using your fingers on it for a long time will make the user's interface stressful.
• IPAD was a great success because it was compact and the user can hold it in the way he desires.
• The efficiency and the pace of the usage of applications will be slowed drastically. 

Windows 7 touch can be used more for entertainment purposes over normal application usage.

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Ashwin Rao
Personal Journal - Entry 7